What’s a guest Wi-Fi network, and why do you need one? 

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Article Summary: As the name suggests, a guest Wi-Fi network is for guests, such as family or friends, to connect their internet devices to when in your home. A guest network is an easy way to stay safe from possible threats and unwanted devices connecting to your secure home network. As your Wi-Fi password is probably the first thing asked when you have guests over, read on to discover how to create a guest network and how easily it is to manage! 

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  As most of us are aware, home network security is extremely important. If your Wi-Fi network is not secured correctly, it leaves you vulnerable to various security threats. Determined hackers can use your Internet service for free, introduce malware onto your devices, and steal your data like your bank or credit card information.  

Fortunately, these threats can usually be addressed with simple measures, such as using the correct type of Wi-Fi security (the WPA2 security protocol), setting a solid Wi-Fi password and changing it every few months.  

 Download the My Westman Wi-Fi App 

Your house guests may pose a threat to your home network 

But there is another type of threat to your home network you may not be aware of: your house guests. If your network is not set up correctly, visitors who access your Wi-Fi network pose a potential security risk to your devices and data.  

Here’s how  

Let’s say that you have two laptops, four smartphones and a tablet in your home, any of which could be connected to your Wi-Fi network at any given time. Let’s say you also have several smart home devices connected to Wi-Fi, and you have a portable USB hard drive plugged into your Wi-Fi router to share files with other family members.  

Whenever a guest logs into your primary Wi-Fi network, they will also have access to every one of these devices. While it’s unlikely any of your friends would intentionally sabotage your network, there’s a chance that the device they are using to connect to your network is infected with some sort of malware. If so, there’s a possibility that this malware could be spread to other devices connected to your network.  

Why you need a guest Wi-Fi network  

Fortunately, there’s a simple way to address this particular threat. Most Wi-Fi routers give you the ability to create what’s called a “guest Wi-Fi” network. Unlike your regular Wi-Fi network that you and your family members use, the guest Wi-Fi network restricts what your guests can do in your network. Specifically, it gives visitors access to your Internet connection and nothing else. They can’t see any of your devices on the network, and they don’t have the ability to access them. Most importantly, they can’t accidentally introduce malware or compromise your devices or data in any other way.  

How does a guest Wi-Fi network work?  

Anyone looking to connect to your Wi-Fi will see your primary Wi-Fi network name and your guest network name. For example, if your primary network is called “MyWiFi,” your guest network might be called “MyWiFi-guest.” Each of these networks has a separate strong password, one you share with guests and the other that you only communicate with family members. When a guest asks you for your Wi-Fi password, you simply give them the guest Wi-Fi password and ask them to connect to “MyWiFi-guest.” Once they’re connected, they can use the Internet, and you don’t have to worry about any security threats.  

How to set up a guest Wi-Fi network using My Westman Wi-Fi App 

*You must have GigaSpire or GigaCenter router to use My Westman Wi-Fi App* 

 Download the My Westman Wi-Fi App 

When you tap the “+” icon from the app’s main menu, you will have the option to create a guest network by selecting Networks.  

In the Add Network screen, do the following:   

1. In the “Wireless Network Type,” select “guest.”  
2. Other blank fields will then appear. Set the name of the wireless guest network as you want it to appear for your guests.   
3. Default Security Type is WPA2. This is the preferred security type. 
4. Set a password for this guest network. A strong password is highly recommended to keep your network safe.  The password must be a minimum of 8 characters long. 
5. Set the duration of the Guest Network. If you set this network to Endless, it will stay available. The alternative is “custom,” which allows you to set a Start and End time for this guest login to be valid.   
6. Once you have set the parameters for your guest network, select “Done” at the top of the screen.  You will get a confirmation popup that the network is now active. 
7. Another popup will appear with options to share the network. You have the option to share your new network with your guests via text, email or another messaging service.  You may select “Share” or skip to skip the sharing process.  
8. Select “My Network” from the home screen to edit your guest network. Select “Networks” and select the network you wish to edit or delete. 

Share your guest password with your visitors  

Keep a record of your guest Wi-Fi password and make sure it’s the password you share with visitors to your home, rather than your primary Wi-Fi password. And don’t forget to change your primary and guest Wi-Fi passwords every few months .

If you have any problems changing the name of your guest Wi-Fi network or changing your password using the web interface, contact our support team at 204.725.4300 or Toll Free: 1.800.665.3337 or visit our Support page.  

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