Set up a guest Wi-Fi network at home
Create a separate Wi-Fi network for visitors and smart home devices. A guest network isolates your main computers and phones from anything you do not fully control or trust.
Why this matters
A guest Wi-Fi network creates a separate, isolated connection that keeps visitors and smart home devices away from your main computers and phones. Smart TVs, doorbells, and voice assistants are often poorly secured — keeping them on a separate network means a compromised device cannot access your personal files or passwords.
How to do it
- Log in to your router's admin interface — type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a browser, or check the sticker on your router for the correct address.
- Look for a 'Guest Network,' 'Guest Wi-Fi,' or 'Guest Zone' setting — most modern routers support this.
- Create a new network with a different name (SSID) and a strong password separate from your main network password.
- Ensure 'Guest Network Isolation' is enabled — this prevents guest devices from communicating with devices on your main network.
- Connect all smart home devices (TV, doorbell, thermostat, smart speaker) and visitors' devices to the guest network, keeping your main network for computers, phones, and tablets only.
Cyber Essentials framework
This task falls under the Firewallscontrol — one of five areas assessed in the UK's Cyber Essentials scheme. Completing it counts toward your Cyber Essentials alignment.
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