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Summer may be flying by, but there's still plenty of travel, houseguests and screen time ahead, all putting extra demand on your home Wi-Fi.

Whether you’re leaving town and using a house sitter, or your kids have friends visiting and going online, your home network gets busier. This time of year, it also faces more risk. A few simple steps can help you stay connected and protected all season long.   

What to do before you travel. 

As more devices and people connect to your network, you should plan for common summer scenarios. Eric Tijerina, Midco’s Senior Director of Access Network Engineering, recommends focusing on a few key areas before you head out of town. 

Prepare for guests. 

Whether it’s a house sitter, a neighbor checking in or family stopping by, chances are someone will need access to your Wi-Fi. 

Instead of sharing your main network password, set up guest access. 

• Create a separate guest network.
• Limit how long access is available.
• Monitor who’s connected.

“If guests come to your house while you are away to check on plants or pets, make sure you have appropriate guest access on your network,” Tijerina said.  

With the Midco Wi-Fi app, you can set guest access times and limits and see who is connected. 

Secure your devices. 

Summer is also a good time to clean up your network. Devices add up quickly, and the ones you’re not using can create unnecessary risk. 

That includes: 

• Old phones or tablets 
• Unused smart devices 
• Laptops or wearables that are still connected 

Tijerina recommends removing anything you’re not actively using. 

“It gives some bad actors an opportunity to try and access stuff they really shouldn't be,” he said. 

Double check your network. 

If you haven’t already, make sure your network name isn’t giving away personal information. 

• Change default passwords on your router. 
• Use strong, unique passwords across devices and accounts. 
• Avoid personal details like names or birthdays. 

“It should be something that just blends in with the others and doesn't necessarily stand out or make your home identifiable,” Tijerina said about network names.  

Segmenting your network can also improve security by dividing your network into multiple parts. This allows work devices, personal use and guest access to operate on the same Wi-Fi system without having the same level of access. 

Assess your smart home features. 

Before you leave: 

• Make sure cameras and doorbells are accessible remotely. 
• Check if devices are charged or plugged in. 
• Run any available updates. 

Tijerina noted that developers often release those updates to patch security holes or fix issues with the devices.  

Security is a shared responsibility. 

At Midco, we build security into your connection, but protecting your home network is a shared responsibility. We help secure your connection to the home, but what happens inside your network matters just as much. 

Think of it like a package delivery. We make sure it gets to your door safely, but it’s up to you to bring it inside and keep it secure. 

“We will secure the connection to your modem or Midco-provided Wi-Fi router, but everything beyond that is the customer’s responsibility,” Tijerina said.  

Midco does provide some tools to help with that security. In the Midco Wi-Fi app, there is a feature called Guard which enables real-time online protection and prevents accidental visits to malicious websites. 

Taking a few minutes before you travel can help protect your network, your devices and your peace of mind all summer long.