As Chicago public schools debate the safety of reopening, half of Illinois students continue in an all-remote learning environment. Many Chicago residents are left helping their children remain engaged with remote learning.
There is little getting away from the fact that the pandemic has had a massive impact on the way that we live our daily lives, and one of those effects is the mass migration to fully remote education for the first time ever. While remote learning is preferable to no education at all, it is not without its challenges.
Schools can choose to work with a IT company in Chicago to give them the IT resources to function smoothly and safely while engaging in remote learning. But here are some tips for those at home to follow to make your technology a little safer and better:
1. Edit default username and password
One of the first things you should do once having a wireless internet connection installed is change the default administrator passwords and usernames. If you don’t do this then it is likely that hackers will be able to access the default settings via merely using the internet.
2. Edit default network name
In addition to changing the default username and password, you should also change the default network name too. This is also known as the SSID – Service Set Identifier. If you don’t do this then hackers will be more likely to target you because they will see that your network is not configured well.
3. Disable SSID Broadcast
Elaborating further on SSID; you need to make sure you disable the router’s broadcasting of SSID. This is designed for use in wireless cafes and alike whereby there are lots of users. You don’t need this feature in your home. In fact, it is detrimental because it encourages outside connection.
4. Install a firewall
A firewall is a basic security method yet it is one that everybody should have in place. Don’t overlook the importance of this. In essence, this literally builds a wall around your wireless network in order to guarantee that you are protected.
5. Address filtering
Media Access Control (MAC) is a unique identifier and it comes complete with all wireless internet connections. Essentially this allows you to restrict wireless connection to a selection of devices that you have given addresses too. This is a good way of ensuring no outside access from a hacker.
6. Compatible encryption
It doesn’t matter what type of wireless internet you have you will have access to encryption technology. Essentially what this does is distorts the messages you send online through scrambling so that nobody can read them.
7. Be savvy
It may sound obvious but you need to be mindful of the information you share. You need to consider the files you send carefully and alike. If you can then it is always good for files to be protected with a password. And be mindful when opening stuff too. People all over the world have been scammed by clicking on bad emails and links. Read this on the dangers of clicking on bad links to find out more. You can get a better understanding of what actually happens!
8. Internet protocol addresses
You should disable your DHCP on your access point. In replacement of this you put a fixed private IP address range and what you are going to do is connect all of your internet devices to this.
