Worried About Your Netgear Extender Security? Do This!

By: Pooja Saxena
On: February 9, 2022

It feels great to kick start the day right from the comfort of the bed and access a blazing-fast internet connection, isn’t it? That is why Netgear extenders are installed in every corner of the world. But, with the provision of a high-speed internet connection, the chances of the extender’s WiFi network being accessed by unauthorized users increase proportionally. If you have also performed Netgear extender setup at home, then this article will help you secure your WiFi network. So, without any delay, let’s hop up to the tricks to improve the security of the Netgear extender.

How to Secure Netgear Extender?

Set Strong Login Credentials

If you are a new user, then let us tell you that every Netgear WiFi range extender comes with a preset login username and password. These default login credentials are known to every second person. It means that if you don’t change them, they can become an invitation for hackers to access the settings of your Netgear extender. Therefore, change the default login credentials of your WiFi extender to prevent its settings from being accessed by unauthorized users.

To change the default login credentials of your Netgear extender, execute the following instructions:

Turn on your Netgear extender and connect it to the existing router.

Now, get access to a laptop or PC.

Open a web browser of your preference and visit mywifiext.net.

You will be prompted to enter the extender’s default login credentials.

So, type the default username and password of the extender into their respective fields.

Click Log In.

You will see the Netgear Genie dashboard.

Now, locate the Administration option and select it.

Type the new username and password for your Netgear extender and click Save.

And you’re done with changing the default login credentials of your Netgear extender.

Change the Default WiFi Password

Everyone knows that the WiFi password is the key to unlock the internet access of the Netgear extender. But, if your extender still has the default WiFi password, it won’t be good for your home network system. It not only increases the chances of WiFi leeches but also affects the devices connected to your Netgear extender’s network. So, change the default WiFi password of your extender.

Given below are the instructions to change the Netgear extender WiFi password:

Access the Netgear extender login page on an updated web browser.

As soon as you reach the mywifiext setup wizard, click the Settings menu.

Select Wireless Settings.

Enter the new WiFi password in the Network Key field.

Click the Apply button to save the changes you’ve made to your device.

After changing the WiFi password, your client devices will get disconnected from the extender’s network. So, reconnect them using the new WiFi password.

Update the Firmware

The extender’s firmware controls its overall functionality. Besides, if you keep it updated, it will add new security features to your Netgear extender. Therefore, improve the security of your WiFi network by updating the firmware.

Read the following instructions to update the extender’s firmware:

The moment you get redirected to the Netgear Genie setup wizard, click the Settings menu.

Find the Maintenance section and click Firmware Update.

Your Netgear extender will check if any updates are available.

If a new firmware is available, follow the instructions displayed on the screen and let your extender get updated.

In this way, you can update the firmware of your Netgear extender and add a layer of security to its network.

Bonus!

Another way of securing the Netgear extender is hiding its SSID. Once you disable the SSID broadcast, the extender’s Netgear_ext won’t appear on any network list thereby reducing the chances of WiFi leeches.

Final Thoughts

Securing the Netgear extender’s network is of prime importance in this digital era. Let’s hope that you’ll be able to secure your Netgear range extender with the help of tips discussed in this post.