Moving home is an exciting experience, but there are several things that make it even more enjoyable and safe for the new owners. Boxes all over the place, misplaced furniture, and somewhere in this mess is an effort to recall a password for a network that does not exist. There are several measures that need to be taken immediately upon arrival to ensure safety in the new place.
No protected network, no cameras installed, no information about the previous inhabitants of the house — getting internet and security settled in the first few days means living comfortably and securely for the upcoming months.
This piece will discuss everything you need to arrange when moving, and the order in which these actions should be performed for maximum efficiency.
Organize Your Internet Connectivity Before Moving
The main issue people tend to have is postponing internet connection issues. Installing the internet in the new place may take several weeks, so the best thing to do would be to get it arranged before moving.
Some points that require attention in advance are:
- Make sure the address has service provided by the chosen company. Some companies may not provide internet access to all addresses, so the best option would be to call ahead and clarify.
- Check if the equipment needs to be returned or changed. The company may charge a fee if the previous inhabitants’ equipment is not returned or exchanged.
- If you are going to buy your own router instead of renting one, it is better to purchase it beforehand and have everything arranged to plug it in immediately after the appointment with the technician ends.
Consider buying a new and more advanced router. The newest routers operate on Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E protocols, which allow multiple devices to operate simultaneously without issues, unlike older models.
If the new home is bigger and has thicker walls compared to the previous one, the old router may not be sufficient and may create dead zones in some rooms. A mesh router system will solve this issue without the necessity of arranging additional wires throughout the house. This process takes approximately half an hour if completed using a mobile application.
Also, think about whether you need a landline or TV bundle along with the internet, or whether a simpler internet-only package will fit your needs. Companies try to sell bundles because they are more profitable, but nowadays, most viewing is done online using streaming applications.
Set Up Your Network Correctly Immediately
After the internet installation, do not settle for the default name and password of the network. Spend some time setting everything up correctly.
Firstly, change the default administrator login password. Default passwords for router administration interfaces are often “admin” and “password.” Since this information is readily available for any router model online, it is better to change this login password immediately to prevent unauthorized changes.
Then, change the name of the network and the Wi-Fi password. Try to avoid using any personal information such as your name, address, or date of birth. A combination of several random words is the best choice. It is both easy to remember and hard to guess.
If the router has a guest network creation function, activate it and use it for smart home gadgets and visitors. This measure provides a bit of extra protection for your main network, as a hacked smart home device will not be able to access it directly.
Lock Your Doors Properly
Internet security is essential, but so is the actual door. It is impossible to know how many key copies are out there if you are moving into an old house rather than a recently constructed building.
Former tenants, neighbors, or contractors may have a key to your house. Changing the locks is one of the simplest ways to provide a bit of extra security.
While you do that, take a look at all the entry points, not only the front door. Side doors, garage entrances, and ground-floor windows need to be checked for locks too.
It is easy to concentrate on the main entry point but overlook other possible access points, such as unlocked sliding doors.
Cameras and Smart Devices
Video doorbells and indoor cameras have become a standard part of moving into a new house for a good reason. Such cameras are affordable nowadays, and they allow you to keep an eye on the place while unpacking and running errands in case of absence.
A few points to pay attention to:
- Change the default password on any camera or doorbell application immediately and enable two-factor authentication if possible. Camera feeds are often a target because people forget this step more often than they forget to set up two-factor authentication for other services.
- Choose the right place for cameras. While a camera installed in front of the door is reasonable, a camera that also captures the neighbor’s yard or window is not.
- If you are renting, check your rental agreement before installing any cameras, because many landlords are okay with temporary attachments to surfaces but not with drilling holes in brick or siding.
Securing Your Devices During the Transition Period
The first weeks after moving usually involve increased usage of unknown networks because people spend this time unpacking, working in coffee shops, or using a neighbor’s network until the internet is arranged.
This is the exact scenario when using a VPN makes a lot of sense. Such services encrypt traffic and provide the necessary anonymity for internet activities.
Using such a service during this period is particularly useful because it allows you to hide bank logins or business-related information from other people using the same network.
Along with that, it is essential to make sure that all basic security settings are enabled on each device. Automatic software updates must be enabled on phones, laptops, and tablets because these updates often contain security patches for vulnerabilities that are actively exploited elsewhere.
Also, if you have not done it before, it would be a good time to enable a password manager to avoid using the same passwords across different accounts.
Do Not Forget About the Mail and Other Paperwork
Mail theft is a real issue, and it becomes even more likely right after a move since packages and notifications arrive at a new address that is not yet considered secure.
If the new house has a non-secure mailbox, the best way to solve the issue would be either to install a lock on the current one or switch to a PO box for sensitive correspondence.
Apart from that, it is crucial to change addresses in the digital world immediately. Addresses of previous residents that appear in account records are a small but very realistic risk factor, especially if their mail sometimes arrives at your door.
It happens more often than people expect, and in such situations, writing “not at this address, return to sender” and mailing the envelope back solves the issue nicely. It is always better than ignoring or throwing it away.
Moreover, moving home is an ideal opportunity to review old unused accounts containing personal data and close them. A moving checklist is a perfect reason to close accounts associated with your previous residence that you no longer use.
Conclusion
There is no need to perform all these actions during one stressful day. It is possible to organize internet installation, network setup, re-keying, and camera installation within the first week or two.
The best approach would be to connect the internet first because almost all other measures depend on it. Protect the network from attacks and then add security devices to it. Secure physical access to the house first, as this action cannot be performed using a computer or phone.
Gradually add cameras, updates, and password management as needed.
A new home is an opportunity for a new beginning, not constant worries about potential risks. Taking care of the basic internet and security measures right upon arrival helps you enjoy the process of unpacking and decorating without extra stress.
