Most people have no idea what's on their home network or how it's configured. They know the WiFi password and that's about it. That's enough to get online — but it tells you nothing about whether your network is secure, properly configured, or being used by devices you didn't authorize. A basic audit takes less than 20 minutes and surfaces the problems that actually matter.
STEP 1: LOG INTO YOUR ROUTER (3 MINUTES)
Everything starts here. Type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your browser — one of these is almost certainly your router's admin panel. If neither works, check a sticker on the router itself for the default gateway address.
If you don't know the admin username and password, check the router sticker. If it still shows factory defaults, that's your first finding: change them before you do anything else.
⚠️ If you can't log in at all and you haven't changed the credentials, someone else may have. Factory defaults are public knowledge. An inability to access your own router with factory credentials is a significant red flag.
STEP 2: INVENTORY CONNECTED DEVICES (5 MINUTES)
Find the DHCP client list or connected devices section — usually under Status or Local Network. Write down everything you see. Then go through the list and identify each device:
- Computers, phones, tablets you own ✓
- Smart TVs, streaming devices ✓
- Smart home devices, cameras, thermostats ✓
- Anything you don't recognize — investigate
Unknown devices on your network warrant investigation. A device you don't recognize could be a neighbor who found your WiFi password, a previously-compromised device you forgot about, or something more concerning.
STEP 3: CHECK CRITICAL SETTINGS (7 MINUTES)
DNS settings
Under WAN or Internet settings, check what DNS servers are configured. They should be your ISP's DNS, or a service you deliberately chose (1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8, 9.9.9.9). Unrecognized IP addresses here are a major red flag.
Remote management
Find the remote management or remote access setting — usually under Administration. It should be off. If it's on and you didn't enable it, turn it off now.
UPnP status
Universal Plug and Play automatically opens ports in your firewall when applications request it. This is convenient and a security risk. Find it and consider whether you need it — most home users don't.
WiFi password strength
Check that you're using WPA3 or WPA2 (not WEP or WPA). Check that your password is strong — not a dictionary word, not your address, not a default.
Firmware version
Note your current firmware version and check the manufacturer's website for the current release. If you're significantly behind, update it.
STEP 4: WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU FIND (5 MINUTES)
Triage your findings by severity:
- Fix immediately: Default credentials, unknown DNS servers, devices you don't recognize, remote management enabled
- Fix soon: Outdated firmware, weak WiFi password, UPnP enabled
- Note for later: Missing network segmentation, no guest network for IoT devices
✅ This audit won't catch everything — a professional assessment goes considerably deeper. But it will catch the most common and most impactful issues, and most people find at least one thing in 20 minutes that needed attention.
Found something concerning — or just want a thorough professional assessment? We audit and configure home and business networks throughout Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley. Contact us today.