Wi-Fi is the transmission standard in the home network To help you enjoy this added convenience with a sense of security, compared to a wired network, we've put together a few tips and tricks.
1. Wi-Fi network access via a network key
When you start operation of your FRITZ!Box for the first time, an encrypted Wi-Fi connection is already enabled. The SSID – the name of the network – contains the name of the FRITZ!Box model and two additional letters (e.g. ‘FRITZ!Box 7690 HT’). When you access this network wirelessly from a laptop or a smartphone, you will be prompted to enter a security or network key. This key is printed on the base of the FRITZ!Box or on the enclosed information sheet.
2. Change the access information
There are two ways to increase security: First, you can change the name of the Wi-Fi network. Choose a name for the SSID that doesn't identify you as the operator or what it is used for (business or personal).
In addition, you can change the existing network key; to do this, open the menu under Wi-Fi > Security in the FRITZ!Box user interface. Here you can also set the Wi-Fi encryption, for instance, to the modern WPA3 method.
A secure Wi-Fi network key contains a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numerals and special characters. A length of at least 20 characters is recommended. Under the entry field, FRITZ!OS displays an assessment of how secure the selected network key is.
3. Control access to the FRITZ!Box.
The FRITZ!Box user interface can only be opened with a password upon delivery. The password can be found on the enclosed information sheet. This password can be changed at will. It should be different from the network key and known only to those users who are allowed to change settings on the FRITZ!Box.
4. Integrate other devices securely
If you want to increase the range of your Wi-Fi network, a FRITZ!Repeater or FRITZ!Powerline device is ideal. These devices are also encrypted upon delivery. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) allows these devices to be connected to the FRITZ!Box easily and securely. A touch of a button is all it usually takes. Detailed information can be found in the quick-start instructions for the respective product.
Checklist: How to increase the security of your Wi-Fi network
- Change the name of your Wi-Fi network after launching operation of your FRITZ!Box.
- The name should not allow any conclusions to be drawn about you as the operator of the Wi-Fi network or its location
- Assign a new network key, noting the display of how secure the selected key is.
- Change the password for the user interface of your FRITZ!Box
