When setting up a wi-fi network we recommend taking the following security steps:

1. Rename the router to something you can remember but doesn’t pinpoint your location. Change the router’s password, too.

2. Disable Universal Plug and Play (sometimes called UPnP). It’s a security risk.

3. Disable WAN Administration for the same reason.

4. Turn on WPA encryption to protect your data and your network.

Otherwise, follow the instructions that came with your router and your network should work pretty easily.

The great thing about setting up a wireless router is that the router is the item that will be connecting to the Internet and sharing the connection, unlike the old days of connection sharing, when the gateway computer always had to be powered up and connected. So feel free to power down your house’s main computer — you should still have access to the Internet from any other machines that can connect to the network…you’ll just lose access to any shared files and folders that are on the computer that you’re shutting down.