How-to guides

Step-by-step help for signing in to your router, turning off settings, and finding out which device is which. Written for people who do not work in IT. You can always see the fix guides for a specific warning.

How to sign in to your routerYour router has a settings page. Here is how to open it, even if you have never done it before.Read the guide Lock down your router: the settings that matterA short checklist of the settings that keep strangers out, and where to find them.Read the guide Lock down a Windows computerTurn off the sharing and remote-control features you do not use, and check the firewall.Read the guide Lock down a MacTurn off the sharing switches you do not use, and keep your Mac updated.Read the guide Lock down cameras, storage boxes, TVs and printersSmart gadgets are a common reason for an open door. Here is what to do for any of them.Read the guide Which device is this?Our check or the Windows app may show a number like 192.168.1.20. Here is how to work out what it is.Read the guide What does an "open port" mean?A simple explanation, with no technical background needed.Read the guide