Your Wi-Fi name could be revealing more than you think
Your home Wi-Fi network could reveal more about you than you realise – and an insecure connection could expose everything from personal information to security cameras and smart home devices.
Most Australians probably accept the Wi-Fi name and password printed on their modem and never give it another thought.
However, CQUniversity Senior Lecturer in ICT Dr Mahmoud El Khodr says while changing your network name is a sensible privacy precaution, it is the security measures behind that name that really matter.
"A default network name can reveal information about your internet provider or even the router model, potentially giving cybercriminals a starting point to identify known security weaknesses," Dr El Khodr said.
"Think of changing your Wi-Fi name as taking your name off the letterbox, not locking the front door.
"A neutral name such as 'Kookaburra-Nest' reveals nothing about the household, but renaming your network alone won't make it harder to hack."
Dr El Khodr advises households to avoid using surnames, street addresses, unit numbers, phone numbers or other identifying information in their Wi-Fi name.
But the bigger concern is what an insecure home network could expose.
With security cameras, baby monitors, smart TVs, video doorbells and other connected devices becoming commonplace, a compromised network can provide criminals with opportunities to access devices and potentially invade household privacy.
A hacked security camera, for example, could reveal family routines and when a home is unoccupied, while compromised devices can also be recruited into criminal networks.
In March 2026, authorities in the United States, Canada and Germany disrupted four major botnets that had infected more than three million devices worldwide, including routers, webcams and digital video recorders.
"The idea that nobody would bother targeting your home is a dangerous misconception," Dr El Khodr said.
"Many cyberattacks are automated. Criminals scan for vulnerable devices on a massive scale, so you don't have to be particularly interesting to become a target."
The security mistakes hiding in your modem
One of the biggest mistakes households make is leaving their router's administrator password at its factory setting.
Dr El Khodr explains that the Wi-Fi password allows people to connect to a network, while the administrator password controls the router itself.
"If someone gains access to your router's administrator settings, they can potentially change how your internet connection operates, redirect traffic or weaken your security without you realising."
Other common mistakes include using weak or widely shared Wi-Fi passwords, failing to install software updates, keeping unsupported routers and leaving unnecessary features such as remote management and WPS switched on.
Dr El Khodr also warns that hiding your Wi-Fi network name does not make it secure. The network can still be detected using readily available tools.
AI brings a new dimension to home security
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into household technology, Dr El Khodr says the risks are also evolving.
"AI assistants are moving beyond answering questions. They are increasingly being connected to devices that can unlock doors, control appliances, adjust heating and carry out tasks on our behalf.
"The question is no longer just who can see our information, but who can tell our home what to do."
In 2025, researchers demonstrated how malicious instructions hidden in a Google Calendar invitation could manipulate Google's Gemini AI assistant into controlling connected smart-home devices, including lights, window shutters and a boiler. Google said it had introduced mitigations before the findings were publicly disclosed.
Dr El Khodr says households need to think carefully about the permissions they give AI assistants, particularly when actions could affect physical safety or involve spending money.
"AI may suggest, but the decision to unlock a door, disable an alarm or spend money should remain with a person."
5 steps to secure your home Wi-Fi
Dr El Khodr recommends five practical steps households can take:
- Change your passwords: Set a strong, unique Wi-Fi password and router administrator password. Rename your network to something neutral that doesn't identify you or your household.
- Update your router: Install the latest software updates, enable automatic updates where available and replace routers that no longer receive security support.
- Use strong security settings: Choose WPA3 encryption or WPA2 with AES if WPA3 isn't available. Switch off WPS and remote management if they aren't needed.
- Separate your devices: Use a guest network for visitors and, where possible, smart TVs, cameras and other connected devices to help isolate them from computers containing sensitive information.
- Check what's connected: Review your router's device list, change default passwords on connected devices, enable two-factor authentication on device apps and disconnect anything you no longer use or recognise.
Dr El Khodr also points to Australia's new mandatory security standards for most consumer smart devices, which came into effect in March 2026.
The standards require manufacturers to address default passwords, provide a way to report security issues and disclose how long products will receive security updates.
However, older devices are not covered by the new requirements, making it important for households to check the security of existing equipment.
"Your home Wi-Fi is now connecting far more than computers and phones. It's connecting the devices that watch over your home, manage your appliances and increasingly make decisions for you.
"Taking a few minutes to secure that network is a simple step towards protecting your privacy, your family and your digital lives."
