Why You Need a Guest Wi-Fi Network

3. Look for the guest network option. Enable guest Wi-Fi access if it’s disabled by default.

4. Create a guest Wi-Fi network name, sometimes called Service Set Identifier (SSID). If the name of your network is HomeSmartHome, maybe call your guest network HomeSmartHome-Guest.

5. You can choose to have your guest network name visible to others. If not, you’ll have to provide your guests with login credentials each time.

6. Create a strong Wi-Fi password for your guest network just as you would for your personal network. Don’t use the same password as your primary Wi-Fi network or one you’ve used anywhere else. A strong password is at least 10 characters and a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

7. Now you can share the guest Wi-Fi information with your guests. Some folks post it on a chalkboard in the kitchen, others print out decorative cards for guests as part of a welcome package in the guest room. Be creative. Some tech-savvy folks create QR codes to make it easy for guests to join.

Securing your guest network

Although a guest network keeps potentially unsecured devices from accessing your private network, you can take a few extra steps to ensure it stays secure.

• Keep your router and all devices on the guest network updated and “patched” with the latest versions of software and firmware. This will head off any security vulnerabilities while reducing the risk of spreading malicious software. Be sure to have cybersecurity software installed as well.
• Even though you created a guest network, it’s still tied to your internet service, so expect slower connections based on the number of guests using it. That said, having a dual band router with frequency bands — usually 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) and 5 GHz with newer Wi-Fi 6 routers having 6 GHz — and allocating devices to one band or another can give you greater overall performance. Look for band options when setting up your Wi-Fi network in steps 4 and 5 above.
• Keep in mind that your guests’ devices will immediately join your Wi-Fi network when they return. It’s up to you if you want to change it.
• And don’t confuse the guest network with your own primary one when connecting new devices to your home Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, you won’t be able to control it using an app on your smartphone or your voice with a smart speaker.