Network Security
Threats, defenses, and habits that keep your network and devices safer.
15 min readSecurity guideUpdated 2026
Why network security matters
Networks connect everything you rely on. Weak security exposes personal data, disrupts services, and creates costly recovery work. A layered approach helps reduce risk.
300B+
Records exposed in 2023
$8.4M
Average breach cost
2,200+
Attacks per day
82%
Attacks tied to credentials
Common threats
Malware and ransomware
Malicious software that steals data or blocks access to systems.
- Keep software updated
- Use reputable security tools
- Avoid unknown downloads
Phishing attacks
Social engineering that tricks users into revealing credentials.
- Verify senders
- Use 2FA
- Educate users regularly
Man-in-the-middle
Intercepted traffic on insecure networks.
- Use HTTPS
- Avoid open WiFi
- Use a VPN
DDoS attacks
Traffic floods that disrupt services.
- Rate limiting
- DDoS protection
- Monitoring and alerting
Defense in depth
Physical security
- Lock network gear
- Control access to hardware
- Track critical assets
Network security
- Firewalls and segmentation
- Encrypted traffic
- Monitoring and logging
Endpoint security
- Antivirus and EDR
- Patch management
- User education
WiFi security
Secure setup
- Use WPA3 when possible
- Change default router passwords
- Use strong WiFi passphrases
- Keep firmware updated
Common risks
- Weak encryption settings
- Public WiFi eavesdropping
- Unpatched router vulnerabilities
- Shared passwords with guests
Best practices
Regular updates
- Patch OS and applications
- Update security tooling
- Review device inventory
Access control
- Least privilege permissions
- Multi-factor authentication
- Audit access regularly
Monitoring and response
Monitoring
- Log aggregation
- Traffic baselines
- Alerting rules
Threat detection
- Anomaly detection
- IDS or IPS
- Credential monitoring
Incident response
- Containment plan
- Recovery steps
- Post-incident review
Home network checklist
- Change default router credentials.
- Enable WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.
- Update router firmware quarterly.
- Use a guest network for visitors.
- Disable WPS if not needed.
- Enable firewall protections.
Next steps
Start with the basics and revisit these checks regularly.