Installing a New SOHO Wireless Router: Ensuring Latest Features and Security

Performing Initial Configuration

Question

A technician is installing a new SOHO wireless router and wants to ensure it is using the latest feature set and is secure.

Which of the following should the technician perform FIRST?

Answers

Explanations

Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer

A. B. C. D.

C.

The first thing that the technician should perform when installing a new SOHO wireless router is to update the firmware. Firmware is the software that controls the operation of the router's hardware, and updates are released periodically to fix bugs, improve performance, and address security vulnerabilities. By updating the firmware to the latest version, the technician can ensure that the router is using the most up-to-date feature set and security protocols.

Changing the default SSID (Service Set Identifier) is a good practice to prevent unauthorized access to the router, but it should not be the first thing that the technician does. Before changing the default SSID, it is important to update the firmware to ensure that the router's security features are working correctly.

MAC filtering is another security feature that can be used to restrict access to the router based on the device's MAC address. However, enabling MAC filtering should not be the first step in securing the router because it can be easily circumvented by spoofing MAC addresses.

Setting encryption, such as WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access II), is an important security measure to protect the wireless network from unauthorized access. However, before setting encryption, the firmware should be updated to ensure that the encryption protocols are working correctly and there are no security vulnerabilities.

In summary, the technician should perform the following steps in the given order to ensure that the SOHO wireless router is secure:

  1. Update the firmware
  2. Change the default SSID
  3. Set encryption
  4. Enable MAC filtering