How to Protect Your WiFi From WiFi Password Stealing Apps

It’s essential to protect your WiFi passwords from WiFi password stealing apps. Not doing so may result in unauthorized access to your networks. Following this, expect data theft, cyberattacks, activity monitoring, bandwidth misuse, and your network being used for malicious activities. 

Simply put, your password guards the gates to your home. And password leaks can pave the way for hackers to use your network for malicious activities. That said, this guide covers brief tutorials on how to secure wifi from malicious apps and the risks of not protecting your wifi passwords.

Note: We recommend using FastestPass password generator to create strong, and unique passwords to protect WiFi network from hackers. 

How to Secure Your WiFi Passwords From Malicious Apps

You can secure WiFi from malicious apps by creating layers of defense. We’ll divide this section into 3 parts, each section covering a tutorial on the layer that has to be set up. 

Layer 1: Enhance Router Protection

Your router is the primary target. If it has weak security, everything else is vulnerable. Here’s a list of the steps we recommend taking to enhance router protection: 

• Change default admin credentials: Change the default router admin credentials. Immediately change this to a unique and strong password. We recommend using FastestPass Password Generator to create strong passwords for your WiFi router and protect WiFi network from hackers.
• Use WPA3 Encryption: This is a non-negotiable step. It’s best to set up WPA3 if your router supports it. If not, use WPA2-PSK (AES). Don’t use WEP or WPA (TKIP).
• Create a Strong Password: Create a new WiFi password using a password generator. If you’re manually doing it, ensure mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols in your password to protect WiFi network from hackers.
• Disable WPS: Look for a button on the router. Turn it off from the router settings to protect WiFi network from hackers. WPS often has critical security flaws that might lead to a WPS PIN Attack. 
• Enable the Router’s Firewall: Routers mostly have it enabled by default. We recommend still checking it.
• Firmware Updates: Developers release router updates to patch security holes. Enable auto-updates if available, or check manually every few months.
• Disable Remote Management: Doing so enables you to access your router’s admin panel from outside your home network. It’s best to keep it disabled unless you specifically need it. 

Layer 2: Secure the Connected Devices

Securing all your connected devices stops the malware before it can spread further and steal anything. This helps secure WiFi from malicious apps.

• Keep a Zero Trust Policy With App Permissions: Reconsider every app permission you give. Deny all unnecessary permissions to apps that don’t really need them. This is how malicious apps steal passwords. 
• Install Apps via Official App Stores: Download apps only from official applications stores, i.e., the Play Store or App Store and check their reviews. Avoid third-party app stores and sideloading APK files from the web. 
• Update the Device’s Operating System: Keep the OS updated to ensure the vulnerabilities are patched.
• Use an antivirus software: Use a reliable antivirus software to detect and block known info-stealer malware from your device. 
• Avoid Public WiFi Helpers:  Avoid apps that promise to “share” or “get” passwords for public Wi-Fi. They often work by crowdsourcing passwords, which can include stealing and uploading saved passwords from your device.

Layer 3: Advanced Network Segmentation

This section covers 2 steps for advanced network segmentation to protect your network from WiFi password stealing apps.

• Use a Guest Network: Create a separate guest WiFi for visitors, smart devices, and apps/games you don’t fully trust. This helps isolate devices from the main network. If a malicious app on a guest device steals the guest password, it can only access the guest network then.
• MAC Address Filtering: Configure the WiFi router to allow specific devices to connect. It’s not a foolproof idea, but it adds another hurdle for casual snoops. 

Layer 4: Advanced Network Monitoring

This is the final advanced layer that we recommend setting up to protect your network from WiFi password stealing apps

• Regularly Check Connected Devices: Log in to your router’s admin panel and review the list of connected devices. Check if there are any unknown devices and remove them if you notice any to protect WiFi network from hackers. 
• Be Vigilant of All Links and Downloads: Phishing links, malicious email attachments, or downloads are the most common methods for malware to get into your device. Don’t click on suspicious links even if they’re from friends. 

What Are the Risks of Not Protecting Your WiFi Network From WiFi Password Stealing Apps

Not taking adequate WiFi protection measures exposes you to serious risks. These include data theft, malware installations, identity theft, and more. This section walks you through the risks of not protecting your WiFi network from WiFi password stealing apps: 

1. Bandwidth Theft and Performance Issues

Unauthorized users consume your internet data. This leads to slow speeds, buffering, and hitting data caps. You’ll notice a degraded work or entertainment experience and potential overage charges from your ISP. 

2. Data Theft

Hackers directly target devices connected to it. For example, man-in-the-middle attacks are a common risk of hackers accessing your WiFi network. They might also steal personal information, photos, documents or tax returns. 

3. Malicious Activities via Your Network

Hackers can use your IP address to engage in malicious activities, such as launching cyberattacks, sending spam, or engaging in other activities. In this case, you might face legal consequences because the IP address will trace back to you. 

4. Credential and Financial Theft

Expect WiFi hacking apps to get into your accounts containing sensitive or financial information. This also includes getting into apps that contain all your passwords and credentials. In this case, it’s best to store all your passwords and credentials in a encrypted password vault, such as FastestPass. 

5. Smart Home Compromise

IoT (smart) devices are often the weakest security link. Hackers can access live feeds from insecure cameras and microphones, unlock smart locks or even create a botnet. 

FAQs – Protect Your WiFi From Password Stealing Apps

Final Note

WiFi passwords act as gates to a house, and the WiFi password is what guards the doors of it. Meaning, the weaker the password, the easier it is to get into the house. Ensure that you set strong, unique passwords, disable WPS, and enable WPA3 on your router to secure your WiFi network from WiFi hacking apps. 

Using a reliable password generator ensures that your passwords, credentials, and other sensitive information remain safe in a password vault, despite data theft attempts. We recommend using FastestPass for its premium password security features.