Q. I just bought a brand new router. How do I set it up to keep unwanted visitors off my network? Thanks for all of the security tips you give me.
-Carly from Harrisonburg, VA, listens to my national radio show on WSVA 550 AM. 

A. I'm so glad that security is the first thing you think about when setting up your tech gear, Carly! It's especially important when you buy a new router. An unsecured router can be a Pandora's Box of security and privacy concerns.

Leaving your network open means anyone nearby can hop on it and surf the Web on your dime, slowing down your speeds. If they do anything illegal, the feds will trace it back to you. Even worse, a hacker could pull your sensitive files off your computer and gadgets.

You have to do everything you can to prevent this. I'll walk you through every step of the process to make sure you don't leave any hole open for someone to sneak through.

These steps aren't just for setting up a new router, either. I encourage everyone to go through this process step by step to make sure your router is locked down. You can rest assured snoops and hackers will have the same sort of diligence when trying to break into your connection!