https://wifixray.com/research/ Research and practical guides on home Wi-Fi and network security. en https://wifixray.com/research/home-networking-glossary.html https://wifixray.com/research/home-networking-glossary.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT A clear home networking glossary covering Wi-Fi, routers, security, addresses, signals, and the everyday terms used to troubleshoot a network. https://wifixray.com/research/public-wifi-on-a-mac.html https://wifixray.com/research/public-wifi-on-a-mac.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Use public Wi-Fi on a Mac with practical safeguards: verify the network, prefer HTTPS, limit sharing, and forget networks you no longer use. https://wifixray.com/research/mac-address-filtering-myth.html https://wifixray.com/research/mac-address-filtering-myth.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT MAC address filtering can manage familiar devices, but it is not reliable Wi-Fi access control. Use modern encryption and unique credentials instead. https://wifixray.com/research/hidden-ssid-myth.html https://wifixray.com/research/hidden-ssid-myth.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT A hidden Wi-Fi name is not a security control. Learn why networks remain discoverable and which protections actually matter for a home router. https://wifixray.com/research/router-firmware-updates.html https://wifixray.com/research/router-firmware-updates.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Router firmware updates often arrive slowly or not at all. Learn how to check support, update safely, and decide when replacement is the safer choice. https://wifixray.com/research/router-placement-guide.html https://wifixray.com/research/router-placement-guide.html Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Place a home Wi-Fi router for better coverage by choosing an open central location, testing signal in real rooms, and avoiding common obstacles. https://wifixray.com/research/check-your-router-dns.html https://wifixray.com/research/check-your-router-dns.html Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Learn how to check which DNS servers your router and Mac use, why those layers differ, and how to set resolvers you actually intend to trust. https://wifixray.com/research/home-network-segmentation.html https://wifixray.com/research/home-network-segmentation.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Separate trusted computers, guests, and smart devices at home with practical network segmentation choices that do not require enterprise hardware. https://wifixray.com/research/choosing-wifi-channel-1-6-11.html https://wifixray.com/research/choosing-wifi-channel-1-6-11.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT Choose a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi channel with confidence by understanding overlap, channel width, and why channels 1, 6, and 11 are common practical choices. https://wifixray.com/research/telnet-ftp-on-consumer-routers.html https://wifixray.com/research/telnet-ftp-on-consumer-routers.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT Telnet and FTP still appear on some home routers for legacy admin and file features. Learn why that matters and how to check and harden your gateway. https://wifixray.com/research/vpn-on-your-router.html https://wifixray.com/research/vpn-on-your-router.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT A router VPN can protect more devices at once, but it can reduce speed, complicate local access, and create a single point of failure. https://wifixray.com/research/what-your-smart-tv-talks-to.html https://wifixray.com/research/what-your-smart-tv-talks-to.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT Learn what a smart TV communicates with on a home network, why local discovery is normal, and how to review privacy settings and access sensibly. https://wifixray.com/research/is-someone-using-my-wifi.html https://wifixray.com/research/is-someone-using-my-wifi.html Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT Learn practical ways to tell if someone is on your Wi-Fi, which popular signs are myths, and what to do if you find an unknown device on your network. https://wifixray.com/research/port-forwarding-risks.html https://wifixray.com/research/port-forwarding-risks.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMT Understand port forwarding, why it exposes a service to the internet, the risks involved, and safer ways to provide access to a home device. https://wifixray.com/research/mesh-vs-range-extender.html https://wifixray.com/research/mesh-vs-range-extender.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMT Compare mesh Wi-Fi systems and range extenders for coverage, speed, roaming, and cost so you can choose the right whole-home network upgrade. https://wifixray.com/research/iot-device-security-checklist.html https://wifixray.com/research/iot-device-security-checklist.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT Use this practical smart-home security checklist to inventory devices, harden logins, segment networks, and cut needless cloud and remote exposure. https://wifixray.com/research/why-video-calls-drop.html https://wifixray.com/research/why-video-calls-drop.html Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT Diagnose dropped video calls by separating Wi-Fi signal, local congestion, router issues, and internet path problems with practical repeatable checks. https://wifixray.com/research/router-default-passwords.html https://wifixray.com/research/router-default-passwords.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT Change default router admin passwords safely, distinguish them from Wi-Fi keys, and lock down gateway access with a clear step-by-step process. https://wifixray.com/research/guest-network-when-it-helps.html https://wifixray.com/research/guest-network-when-it-helps.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT Guest Wi-Fi helps when you need isolation for visitors and gadgets. Learn when a guest SSID improves security and when it only adds complexity. https://wifixray.com/research/rssi-noise-snr-explained.html https://wifixray.com/research/rssi-noise-snr-explained.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT Understand RSSI, noise floor, and SNR on Wi-Fi links, how to read dBm values, and what those numbers mean for real Mac network troubleshooting. https://wifixray.com/research/fifteen-minute-home-network-audit.html https://wifixray.com/research/fifteen-minute-home-network-audit.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT Use this fifteen-minute home network audit to inventory devices, check Wi-Fi security, review router access, and set practical next actions. https://wifixray.com/research/randomized-mac-addresses-device-identification.html https://wifixray.com/research/randomized-mac-addresses-device-identification.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT Learn why private Wi-Fi MAC addresses broke vendor-based device ID, what still works for home inventory, and how modern scanners adapt today. https://wifixray.com/research/what-is-mdns-bonjour.html https://wifixray.com/research/what-is-mdns-bonjour.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT mDNS and Bonjour let devices find printers, speakers, and computers by name on your local network without running a central directory DNS server. https://wifixray.com/research/upnp-convenience-versus-exposure.html https://wifixray.com/research/upnp-convenience-versus-exposure.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT Learn what UPnP does on home routers, why apps rely on automatic port mapping, how that expands attack surface, and when disabling it is wiser. https://wifixray.com/research/wifi-7-what-it-means.html https://wifixray.com/research/wifi-7-what-it-means.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT Understand Wi-Fi 7 for home networks: multi-link operation, wider channels, compatible devices, and the practical upgrades that matter before buying. https://wifixray.com/research/wpa2-vs-wpa3.html https://wifixray.com/research/wpa2-vs-wpa3.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:00 GMT Compare WPA2 and WPA3 Wi-Fi security: handshake improvements, encryption modes, transition networks, and when upgrading your router settings matters. https://wifixray.com/research/5ghz-vs-6ghz-wifi-6e.html https://wifixray.com/research/5ghz-vs-6ghz-wifi-6e.html Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 GMT Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band for cleaner high-throughput home links. Compare 5 GHz versus 6 GHz for range, congestion, devices, and daily use. https://wifixray.com/research/wifi-channel-congestion-explained.html https://wifixray.com/research/wifi-channel-congestion-explained.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT Understand Wi-Fi channel congestion on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, how overlapping channels waste airtime, and how to pick a cleaner channel at home. https://wifixray.com/research/bluetooth-beacons-and-privacy.html https://wifixray.com/research/bluetooth-beacons-and-privacy.html Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT Learn how Bluetooth beacons and item trackers work, what nearby signals can reveal, and practical steps for protecting privacy on a Mac computer. https://wifixray.com/research/see-every-device-on-your-wifi-mac.html https://wifixray.com/research/see-every-device-on-your-wifi-mac.html Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT Learn practical ways to list every device on your home Wi-Fi from a Mac, using ARP, router client lists, and name discovery without guesswork.