Hide Wi-Fi name
You can hide your Wi-Fi® network name or SSID from Available Network searches. This prevents outside users from being able to find and access your network without your knowledge.
Important: Before following these steps, be sure to store your Wi-Fi network name and password in a safe location. You’ll have to manually enter them after your network name is hidden. Then, choose your equipment type to get detailed instructions.
- Go to your gateway settings.
- Select Wireless from the Top Networking Features area.
- Look for Network area and select Disabled from the SSID Broadcast menu.
- Select Save.
MAC address filtering
Set up your Wi-Fi gateway so that it only connects to devices by MAC address. This makes your connections more secure. When you turn on MAC address filtering, only devices that you select can connect to your network.
FYI: Make sure you have the MAC address for each device you want to access your Wi-Fi home network. Every device will have its own process to find its MAC address. Check your service documentation or manufacturer’s website for detailed instructions.
- Go to your gateway settings.
- Select Top Networking features, then Wireless.
- Check Enable in the MAC Filtering, Edit Blocked/Allowed Device List.
- Enter the MAC address for each device you wish to allow network access and select Add to List.
- Select Save.
Set up port forwarding
When you set up port forwarding, you set up rules to tell the gateway to route data sent or received on a port to a specific IP address on your home network.
Important: Use port forwarding with caution. It may allow others to access devices in your home without your knowledge.
To open a port for user-defined applications:
- Go to your gateway settings.
- Select Settings, then Firewall.
- Choose Applications, Pinholes and DMZ. If you get a warning message, restart your Wi-Fi gateway. Then, continue with these steps.
- Find Select a Computer and choose the device name or IP address for the device you wish to open a port for. If the IP address or device name isn’t listed, enter it in the Enter IP Address and select Choose.
- Look for Edit firewall settings for this computer and select the Allow individual application(s) button.
- Select the application from the list and Add to move it to Hosted Applications. If your application isn't in the list:
- Select Add a new user-defined application.
- Enter a name for the application or device in Application Profile Name.
- Select the appropriate Protocol button.
- Enter the port(s) you wish to open for From and To. It's recommended to create a separate user-defined application/device entry for each port as opposed to using a port range. In this case the port number should be the same in the From and To fields.
- Leave Protocol Timeout and Map to Host Port blank unless you want to define manually.
- Choose the Application Type you're setting up for port forwarding. If your device or application isn't listed, leave it set at “-“ default.
- Select Add to List. Repeat as needed.
- Select Back when all applications have been added. Your new applications will display in the Applications list.
- Select Done when your selections display in Hosted Applications.