What is a guest network and how to use it?

In this fast-moving age of the internet, it isn't uncommon that many of us share our Wi-Fi credentials with friends and guests. At first glance, it doesn't seem to be a big deal to share your Wi-Fi credentials but when your guests join your home network they can see all of your smart devices and computers. Without properly securing your smart devices and PCs, your smart devices may be accessible to your guests.

Imagine a scenario where you are hosting a party and there are several guests visiting your place. If one such guest comes up to you and makes a request to get connected to your Wi-Fi, then as a good host you are left with no choice but to share your Wi-Fi password. With hospitality, you end up compromising your network security.

A guest might end up accessing malicious software or could simply connect their infected phone to your network. It is easy for malware to spread across multiple devices connected using the same Wi-Fi. So here comes the biggest challenge when you want to be a good host as well as not compromise on your network security.

This is exactly why you would want to use and set up a guest Wifi network. Let us first understand what exactly a guest network is.

What is a Guest Wi-Fi Network?

A guest network lets you remain isolated and keeps your network safe. On the Wi-Fi router, a separate access point commonly referred to as SSID is dedicated to a guest network. This is especially used for guests to connect.

So, the home network has a separate access point and the guest network will have a separate access point. Additionally, the guest network will not be able to interfere with the home network. This helps in making the home network safe and free from any malicious software.

This way, even if an infected guest phone is connected to your Wi-Fi network, your home network will be completely isolated and safe. This is a great way to be a perfect host as well as not compromise on your network security.

Reasons to set up a guest Wi-Fi network:

• Improved security that prevents malicious software from infecting your home network and your personal devices. The guest network provides an isolated connection.
• Guest networks provide limited and restricted access. While you can share your Wi-Fi connection, your personal network and devices remain safe.
• The guest network adds an additional layer of protection. While testing any new smart device, you can first get connected to a guest network. This ensures in case of any device hacks your home network remains safe.
• The guest network and home network can have a different password. Even if you have a complex password for your home network, you can keep slightly easy to share the password for your guest network.
• Guest networks can be turned off when not in use. This ensures the appropriate use of bandwidth.
• Guest networks can be easily set up with zero additional cost.

How to set up a guest Wi-Fi network:

Not all routers support a guest network and this is the first thing you need to be aware of. In case you are purchasing a new router then choose the one which offers WPA2 encryption, supports guest network configuration and isolates guest users from each other. In most cases, the router manual provides details on how to configure a new guest network and set up the password.

The router manual will contain the router's IP address. Key in this IP address on your browser's URL bar to see the router settings. This is usually a private IP address range such as 192.168.0.1 or 10.0.0.1.

To access the settings of the router, you would need to enter the admin username and password for the router. These credentials might be as part of the user manual with a procedure to change the default password.

Upon successful login, you will be able to find Guest Network under the Wi-Fi settings. Alternatively, you can also read the user manual or google the model number of the router to get more details on finding the Guest Network option. Based on the router model, this option naming may vary.

You may name your guest network however you desire. This would be the name that would be seen by the guests. With this, the guest network will be set up. Some routers may require additional configuration to activate the guest network. These instructions will be part of the guest network setup guide.

While the guest network setup is ready, you would need to perform a few basic checks on this connection:

• Set up an appropriate password for your guest network. This password should not be the same as your home network password.
• Check if your home network is completely inaccessible via a guest network. In certain routers, you need to explicitly consider selecting network isolation option.
• Choose a suitable encryption algorithm for the connection. In most cases, WPA2 variants are used. This is considered as one of the strongest encryption standards.
• Disable guest network users from viewing and accessing router settings. If this is enabled, then a guest user might be able to reconfigure your router settings. Ensure to restrict permissions for guest users.
• Disable guest users from viewing other guest users connected to the network. Provide guest user-level isolation.
• Upgrade your router firmware regularly to be free from router vulnerabilities.