Home Networks & Wi-Fi · Smart Home Devices · Lesson 2 of 5

A Separate Network for Gadgets

Give your gadgets their own Wi-Fi so a weak one can't reach your laptop.

Two networks, one router

Most home routers can broadcast more than one Wi-Fi network at the same time. Each one has its own name and its own password.

Your main network is the one your laptops and phones use. Your guest network is a second network, first made for visitors. Some routers also offer an IoT network, a second network made just for smart gadgets. Either one works for this job.

Why split them up? Think of a house with a separate guest cottage. Guests have a key to the cottage, but not to the main house.

Devices on the same network can usually see and talk to each other. So if a cheap camera gets taken over, an attacker can use it to look around. They might find a laptop with shared files or a computer that is missing updates.

Put the camera on the guest network, and that path is closed. The camera still reaches the internet, so it works as normal. It just can't reach your laptop.

Here is a simple rule for what goes where:

• Main network: laptops, phones, tablets and computers. These hold your email, photos and bank sign-ins.
• Guest or IoT network: the smart TV, smart plugs, cameras, doorbells and speakers.

One setting keeps the networks apart. It has a name like "Allow guests to access my local network". Make sure it is off.

On the practice computer, open the devices list. Move the smart TV, smart plug, doorbell camera and voice speaker onto the guest or IoT network. Keep the laptops and phones on the main one.

Living with a split network

A separate network works well, but it can cause a few small surprises. Knowing them ahead of time saves frustration.

Moving a gadget. You can't drag a gadget from one network to another in real life. You connect it to the new network in its own app, usually under Wi-Fi or network settings. For some gadgets, the only way is to reset it and set it up again.

Setup may need your phone nearby. Some gadgets want your phone on the same network during setup. If setup fails, join your phone to the guest network for a few minutes. Finish setup, then switch back.

Casting and printing. Sending a video from your phone to the TV is called casting. It often only works when the phone and TV share a network. The same goes for a wireless printer. A simple fix is to keep the printer on the main network. For the TV, decide which matters more to you, casting or keeping it separate.

Give it a clear name and password. Name the network something plain, like "House Gadgets". Avoid your family name or address. Give it its own long password, different from the main one.

What if my router can't do this? Check its app or admin page for "Guest network" first. If there is no such option, the other steps in this course still protect you. Strong passwords and updates matter most.

On a phone, you switch networks in Wi-Fi settings, just like on a laptop.