Here are some tips for how you can protect yourself online:

__1__

__Keep yourself safe__

- Avoid using your phone while driving by keeping it off, on silent, or out of view. If you need to use it, ask a passenger to help you out, or pull over safely first.
- Prepare for the unexpected by keeping emergency contacts listed in your phone and in your children’s phones.
- Stick to connecting with people online who you've already met in person.

__2__

__Stay on top of updates for browsers, software, and operating systems__

- It's like having your own personal bodyguard against those sneaky new threats.
- Keep yourself covered with anti-virus, anti-spyware, and a firewall.

__3__

__Keep your accounts and personal info safe__

- Make sure your passwords are strong, and change them up regularly. Instead of just a word, try using the first letters of a phrase, like __ICARMP2*__ for "I can always remember my password 2*". For an extra layer of security, try using a passphrase.
- Avoid shopping on public computers or while using public Wi-fi
- Opt out of saving your credit card information.
- Back up your smartphone data regularly in case it breaks or goes missing.
- If you plan to switch to a new smartphone, first make sure your  personal data, passwords, files, and emails are all deleted from your phone by resetting it to its factory settings (this is more effective than deleting these items manually)
- Avoid sharing personal details, like your birthday, where you live, or your vacation plans. This information can impact your real-world life too.
- Take control of your permission and privacy preferences. Certain apps and social sites might give their creators a peek at your stuff: your contacts, where you're at, even your pics. So, take a sec to read and tweak those settings - that way you're the boss of who sees what!
- Make a Google Alert for your name through google.com/alerts. That way, if your name pops up online, you'll get an email heads-up.
- The things you share and like on social media can have a big impact on your and your friends' lives. For example, pictures of you in questionable situations could throw a wrench in your career gears and personal life, so before you hit that ‘post’ button, give it a think!
- Be sure to sign out of your apps when you're done using them. Staying logged in is like an open invitation to security and privacy problems.
- When you're not using your gadgets, give them a breather by turning them off, especially the ones with cameras and microphones. This helps you avoid having your data collected.
- Take charge of your online privacy by learning which of your data data is being gathered and how it's being used. Then, tweak your privacy settings to make sure you're only sharing what you're cool with.
- Watch out for free Wi-Fi. Hackers love to sneak in through it and snatch your personal info. If you must use it in public, stick to browsing only, and never share any personal or financial details over it. 

__4__

__Keep your network safe__
Keep your guests’ gadgets over on a "guest" network. That way, if anything fishy happens, your personal network stays safe and sound.

__5__

__Keep your inbox safe__
When you check your email, it's always a good idea to be a bit of a detective. Look out for weird attachments or links, any requests for your personal info, or even typos and grammar mistakes. These signs could be telling you "Hey, this email might be up to no good."

__6__

__Keep your phone safe__
- Boost your phone's security level! Consider setting it up to lock automatically when you're taking a break from it. Don't forget to set and switch up your password regularly to keep things super secure.
- Consider using apps like "Find my Phone" (on iPhones) or "Find my Device" (on some Androids) to track or lock your phone and even remotely erase the info on it, if it ever goes missing.
- If an online offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Avoid clicking on it. 
- Be on guard against Bluetooth risks. Hackers can also sneak into Bluetooth devices, so stick to trusted connections only. If you don't need it, just turn Bluetooth off. 
- When downloading apps, play it smart and stick to Apple's App Store or Google Play. Do a quick search before downloading to avoid any nasty surprises like malware or viruses.

__7__

__Keep your location safe__

- Give location access only to apps that actually need it, like GPS or maps. Other apps, like social media, don’t need to have this information to function.
- Lots of smartphones tag pics with exactly where they were snapped (aka geotagging). You can turn this off to amp up your privacy when you share pics online.

__8__

__Keep your battery going strong__
Manage your phone's power usage by switching off any extras you don't need and lowering the settings that are adjustable. Here are a few quick tips that’ll help you save juice on your phone:

- Lower your screen’s brightness
- When you’re not using them, turn off your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

__9__

__Keep others safe__
- Put a stop to online bullying by showing respect, both online and offline, for yourself and your pals. About 42% of young Canadians have been victims of cyberbullying, and a whopping 60% have seen it happen to others in the past 4 weeks. 
- Instead of standing on the sidelines, take positive steps to fix the problem. Your actions as a witness can truly have a significant impact on the life of a bullying target. You've got options: you can reach out to them and offer some private support, contact the service provider and flag the behavior, or even reach out for help from other sources.
- Taking and sharing personal images of someone without their permission is basically cyberbullying, and it's against the law, so think before you hit that ‘share’ button.

__10__

__Protect yourself before and while online shopping__
- Confirm a website’s security by checking the top of the browser page or the address bar for the lock icon as well as the ‘S’ in “https.” 
- Check out the vendor’s reputation. Look out for stuff like a privacy blurb, their real-world address, a contact number, and how they handle returns on their site. Also, be sure they’ve gotten plenty of credible thumbs-up reviews from other shoppers. 
- Stick to the payment app that's already on your phone, like Apple Pay or Android Pay. 

__11__

__Clean up your digital world__

Every three to six months, block off some time to review your privacy and permission settings, switch up your passwords, give your ‘Contacts’ list a double-check, and delete accounts you're not using anymore.


Troubleshooting

Internet

Wi-Fi & Internet

Equipment

Digital safety and privacy tips

Want to create a Wi-Fi network for your guests without giving away the details of your primary connection? Follow the simple steps below, and you'll be the ultimate tech-savvy host in no time!

__Step 1:__

a) Start by opening a browser window and typing the default IP address for the Boost Wi-Fi 6 Lite router (Wi-Fi 6 Router) in the address bar at the top: __192.168.1.254__

b) Next, to get into the online settings for your Boost Wi-Fi 6 Lite Router, you'll need to use the login info found on the same sticker as the LED details (to get to the sticker, remove the router’s bottom cover). 

c) Find the IP address for your Boost Wi-Fi 6 Lite Router in Insight.

d) Type that IP address into your browser window. You can use the same login info found on the sticker (yep, the same one as step b above) to get to the online settings for your Boost Wi-Fi 6 Lite Router.

__Step 2:__ From the left-side menu, select __Wi-Fi.__

__Step 3:__ From the top of the page, select __Guest network.__

__Step 4:__ From the dropdown “Status” menu select __Enabled__, then select __Save__.


How to set up a guest network

Whether you're experiencing slow speeds, intermittent connectivity, or a complete loss of Internet access, we have you covered.

### Good to know

Before you get started with troubleshooting, keep the following in mind:

- Your internet won’t work until your activation date. Please make sure to set up your equipment on your confirmed activation date. 

- Download speeds are commonly lower than the speed advertised on your plan. As long as you're within an acceptable range, you're good to go! For example, if your plan promises 50 Mbps download speed but you're getting around 40 Mbps, that's perfectly fine. 

- Wi-Fi Internet connections tend to be slower because of various environmental factors that mess with your Wi-Fi signal, like:

  - Distance between your modem and your device
  - Cordless phones using a similar frequency in your home 
  - Household appliances that use electromagnetic radiation, like microwaves
  - Being in a highly-populated place, like an apartment building, that might have numerous Wi-Fi networks 
  - The construction materials and arrangement of your living space

### Try these quick fixes

- __Restart your device__

- Make sure that the length of your cables (like RJ45, RJ11, or coaxial cables) is __6 feet or less__

- [Restart your modem](https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/how-to-reset-your-modem-and-your-router)

- If you're having speed-related issues, try __clearing your browser's cache and cookies.__

- If you're using Wi-Fi for your Internet connection, __test your speed on a computer that uses a wired connection.__ This will give you the most accurate results so you can figure out if the issue lies with your Internet service or your Wi-Fi network at home.

- __Experiment with different websites, games, or applications.__ The issue could possibly stem from the server of the specific service you're using

- __Move your modem or device to another room__ for better Wi-Fi signal. Leave about six inches of space around it and lift it slightly. For the best signal, keep your modem away from other electronics, wireless devices, and appliances to prevent interference from these. For more info, check out our Help page about [Selecting the best location for your modem and router](https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/selecting-the-best-location-for-your-modem-and-router)

- __Think about upgrading your personal device.__ Even if your modem is lightning-fast, your internet service and WiFi performance can still be affected by the device you're using. So, if your tablet streams like a charm but your old laptop is crawling, it might be a sign to consider getting a newer device.

- __Give your Internet speed a quick test__ to ensure that your connection is running smoothly.

   - For the ultimate precision, we recommend that you run this test on a desktop or laptop computer that's connected to your modem using an Ethernet cable.
   - If you're stuck with Wi-Fi, just make sure the device you're testing on is in a clear spot within two meters of the modem/access point. Don't forget to hit pause on any big downloads or video streams happening around your home.

Why is my Wi-Fi and internet slow?

Uh-oh, did you misplace your home Wi-Fi network password? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this article, we'll show you some quick and easy ways to recover your forgotten password and get you back online in no time.

Just follow the super simple instructions below that match your situation:

__If you haven’t changed the default SSID and password:__

You can find the login info on the sticker of the Boost router (under the bottom cover).

![image2_change_network_name](//images.ctfassets.net/8cecwr1x4jkf/7H0O8HtC1egFJr7ZQXTjUX/1e8b4068685a3fd0fb76648cf31c353c/image2_change_network_name.png)

![image3_change_network_name](//images.ctfassets.net/8cecwr1x4jkf/1BNUVqeMMmzHQ2UhrwrFzm/4fabe56f8a67db6729a6bc68933d613b/image3_change_network_name.png)

__If you have changed your Wi-Fi password and forgot it:__

You’ll need to do a [factory reset on your router](https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/how-to-reset-your-modem-and-your-router). Once it’s back to factory settings, use the login info on the sticker of the Boost router (under the bottom cover).

I forgot my home Wifi network password

__Step 1:__

a. Open a web browser (eg. Edge or Chrome)

b. In the top address bar, type __192.168.1.254__, then press __Enter__

![image1_change_network_name](//images.ctfassets.net/8cecwr1x4jkf/1VuFCDAZIk1d4BxNVAnaao/7c41dc962738f3af1b2d53dd62991aaf/image1_change_network_name.png)

__Step 2:__

On this Login page,

![image5_change_network_name](//images.ctfassets.net/8cecwr1x4jkf/1LxCm9E5Oc8CZ78a7bWeXd/1db96f618a1591f6014eb4b6db91b047/image5_change_network_name.png)

1. Enter the user name “admin”
2. Enter the Admin password that’s at the bottom of the Boost v2, under the removable cover

![image2_change_network_name](//images.ctfassets.net/8cecwr1x4jkf/7H0O8HtC1egFJr7ZQXTjUX/1e8b4068685a3fd0fb76648cf31c353c/image2_change_network_name.png)

![image3_change_network_name](//images.ctfassets.net/8cecwr1x4jkf/1BNUVqeMMmzHQ2UhrwrFzm/4fabe56f8a67db6729a6bc68933d613b/image3_change_network_name.png)

__Step 3:__

To change the Network Name/SSID or password:

1. From the left-side menu, select __Wi-Fi__
2. In the “General Setting” tab, type in the preferred Network name/SSID 
3. Type in the preferred Network password
4. Select __Save__

![image4_change_network_name](//images.ctfassets.net/8cecwr1x4jkf/0LNKhziG4dgWXEdZlWTYi/b3233f952afef27b6d509688ca19fe9b/image4_change_network_name.png)

How to change a network name and password

Here's how you can effortlessly connect to your home Wi-FiTM network using Windows 8:

1. Press the Windows key + C on your keyboard.

2. Click __Settings.__

3. Click the __Wireless__ icon.

4. Choose the Wi-Fi network you want to join from the list of available options.

5. Click on __Connect__. Enter your Wi-Fi network password when prompted for the “network security key.” If you don’t know your password, we teach you how to find it [here](https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/i-forgot-my-home-wifi-network-password)

6. Click __Next__, then click __Yes__.

You’re all done - you’ve successfully connected to your home network!

Join your home Wi-Fi network through Windows 8

Here's how you can effortlessly connect to your home Wi-FiTM network using Windows 10:

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen to open up the Windows application menu. Then, click on the Settings icon to access the Windows Settings menu.

2. Select "Network & Internet" and you'll see the Network Status window pop up.

3. Choose "Wi-Fi" from the left pane.

4. Make sure the Wi-Fi toggle switch is turned on. If it's not, simply give it a click to turn it on.

5. To see a list of available Wi-Fi networks, select “Show available networks.”

6. Click on “Connect.” Enter your Wi-Fi network password when prompted for the “network security key.” If you don’t know your password, we teach you how to find it [here](https://koodomobile.com/en/help/i-forgot-my-home-wifi-network-password)

7. Click “OK.” It could take a few seconds for your computer to connect to your network.

You’re all done - you’ve successfully connected to your home network!

Join your home Wi-Fi network through Windows 10

Here's how you can effortlessly connect to your home Wi-FiTM network using Mac OS X:

1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon positioned in the right-hand side of the top taskbar (usually found beside the Volume icon).

2. If you see the option to Turn Wi-Fi On, go ahead and click on it. Otherwise, move on to the next step.

3. Choose the Wi-Fi network you want to join from the list of available options.

4. Enter your Wi-Fi network password when prompted. If you don’t know your password, we teach you how to find it [here](https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/i-forgot-my-home-wifi-network-password)

5. Click on "Join." Your computer will now try to connect to the Wi-Fi network you selected. It could take a few seconds for your computer to complete this process.

6. Once you’ve successfully connected to your home network, you'll notice the appearance of black stripes on the Wi-Fi icon in the top taskbar. You’re all done!

Join your home Wi-Fi network through Mac OS X

Whether you're surfing the web, streaming videos, or playing online games, life with the internet is just better, right? Let's get you doing all of these fun things as soon as possible!

Check out these simple steps to get your laptop connected to the internet wirelessly without the need for a separate LAN cable. 

__Heads up!__ This feature might not be available on all models.

<div class="collapsible">
  <h3>Joining a Wireless LAN on Windows 10</h3>
</div>
<div class="content">

1. In the right corner of your taskbar, select __Notifications__. 

2. Select __Network__

3. Choose the network you want to use from the list of available wireless networks, then select __Connect__.

    __Heads up!__ If you check the "Connect automatically" option before connecting, your PC will automatically reconnect to the same network later, even after you restart it. So you won’t need to go through the connection process again each time. This handy feature keeps you effortlessly connected to your preferred network.

4. If you know the network's secure, just enter the password, then select __Next__ to connect.

    __Heads up!__ You'll automatically be connected to networks that you've been connected to before. No need to fuss with it every time!   
</div>

<div class="collapsible">
  <h3>Disabling wireless LAN on Windows 10</h3>
</div>
<div class="content">

1. In the right corner of your taskbar, select The __Wi-Fi icon__

2. To turn off the wireless LAN, just click on Wi-Fi at the bottom.

    __Heads up!__ If you're still having trouble connecting to a wireless LAN after trying the steps above, it might help to try the Network troubleshooter by going to __Settings__ and then going to __Network & Internet.__
</div>

<div class="collapsible">
  <h3>Joining a Wireless LAN on Windows 11</h3>
</div>
<div class="content">

1. In the right corner of your taskbar, select the __Network__ icon.

2. Beside the Wi-Fi icon, you’ll see an arrow (if you hover over the arrow, it says 'Manage WiFi connections.' Select this __arrow.__

3. Choose the network you want to use from the list of available wireless networks, then select __Connect.__

    __Reminder:__ To automatically reconnect to your chosen network next time, check the ‘Connect automatically’ box.

4. If you know the network's secure, just enter the password, then select __Next__ to connect.
</div>

<div class="collapsible">
  <h3>Disabling wireless LAN on Windows 11</h3>
</div>
<div class="content">

1. In the right corner of your taskbar, select the __Network__ icon.

2. From the menu, choose the Wi-Fi icon in the top left corner.

3. When the wireless LAN is deactivated, the button will look greyed-out.
</div>

Got a Q? We have the A.

Need more help?