Is there a good isecurity reason to change the preset name and password for the R6120 router wifi or is it safe to just leave them with the factory presets? My anit-virus complained about a "common name" for the wifi but keeping the presets for the wifi was recommended in the setup. I would appreciate feedback on this issue and would prefer to keep the presets if it is not a security issue. Thank you in advance for your help.
Not a whole lot of concern. If they've got access to the label, they've already got access to your home and router. Having access to the wireless might not be the top priority in that case.
I just prefer to change it so that way I have 1 name because I'm frequently changing routers and I don't have to change every device's settings when I swap.
> [...] My anit-virus complained about a "common name" for the wifi > [...]
"NETGEARxx" might be considered a "common name". Especially if you have neighors with Netgear routers, and they don't change their SSIDs.
> [...] keeping the presets for the wifi was recommended in the setup. > [...]
I've never understood the reason for that recommendation. Perhaps the idea was that the typical Netgear customer would choose some more easily guessed passphrase than the original (two-word composite?) one. But that wouldn't be a reason to keep the original (lame) SSID.
I choose a memorable/distinctive SSID, and a hard-to-guess passphrase. And I try to ignore nonsensical advice.
Thank you. So it's not easier for someone to hack into my wifi because of the default Netgear name? Also a related question - have any firmware updates reset the name and password to the factory presets?
> [...] So it's not easier for someone to hack into my wifi because of > the default Netgear name? [...]
Hiding or changing an SSID does little for security. The passphrase is what matters.
If someone knew a good way to break into Netgear routers, then an SSID like "NETGEARxx" might make it easier to identify your router as a Netgear router.
> [...] have any firmware updates reset the name and password to the > factory presets?
Shouldn't happen, but if the settings get corrupted (by a firmware update, or some other way), and the router notices it, then the router might self-reset in an attempt to straighten itself out. One could program both default and custom credentials into a device, and survive such an event with little trouble.
