You Should Not Be Turning Off WiFi At Night

Summary: This 3-minute article explains why you should not turn off WiFi at night. Also, learn the benefits of staying connected, even while you sleep. Then, contact the IT experts at GEEKAID Computer and Network Support at https://www.geek-aid.com/ to discuss your router, your network connectivity and all the components of your computer system.

For generations, people have gotten used to turning off and unplugging things when they leave their homes. Some folks do it to save money on their electric bills, while others are concerned about accidental fires from shorted electrical devices. However, when it comes to your router and wireless connection, there is no need to unplug routers. The top few reasons users give for turning off their WiFi connection at the router are:

Saving On Electric Bills – How much power does a router use? Very little. Also, routers are designed to be left on round the clock and draw very little electricity. The total cost of leaving a router powered on 24/7 for a year is around $5.00.
Network Security – In a general sense, when a connected device is powered down and, therefore, offline, it cannot be attacked by cybercriminals. However, if you power down for the short time that you sleep, you must still be vigilant for most of your day. Changing the router's administrative password and enabling encryption is an excellent way to start protecting your WiFi connection. Unfortunately, turning off your WiFi at night offers minimal security benefits.
Radiation Protection – Firstly, WiFi signals use a very low power frequency that is not harmful to humans. There are many other sources of unwanted radiation in our day-to-day activities that, over time, can be a lot more harmful. The bottom line is that there is no evidence that exposure to WiFi signals has any health impacts.

Reasons to STOP Turning Off WiFi at Night

Device Updates – Major updates take time and often slow you down and get in the way when using your devices. By leaving your WiFi “on” overnight, you can schedule updates for the middle of the night when you’re asleep. Also, connected devices such as tablets and cell phones can update overnight.
No Waiting To Boot Up – No one wants to add unnecessary things to remember to start their day. If you remember to boot up your router, you will have to wait for it to go online and reconnect to all your devices. Don’t create unwanted obstacles to your productivity.
Routers Are Meant To Be Left On – You are putting unnecessary wear and tear on the device by powering down and rebooting your router daily. In addition, constant rebooting can burn out your capacitors and power supplies, thereby shortening the router's lifespan.
Smart Devices Only Operate With WiFi – As soon as you turn your WiFi off, your smart devices, such as light switches, bulbs, plugs, Amazon Alexa, security cameras, video doorbells and other smart appliances, will not function. If at 3 AM you ask Alexa to turn on the light, be prepared to sit in the dark. The IoT or Internet of Things requires WiFi.

Network Connectivity Is Too Important For Guesswork

SMBs and anyone with a robust network would be wise to enlist the assistance of IT consulting services to help make informed and cost-conscious decisions about your routers and other devices related to your computer system. IT professionals can ensure your system has strong network security from the start. In addition, IT experts can help you define all of your computer-system priorities to serve all your business and personal IT needs. Furthermore, they can ensure your network operates at maximum speed and functionality. Finally, onsite IT support can help keep your entire network up and running as securely and efficiently as possible when required in New York City.

GEEK-AID^® Computer and Network Support specializes in customized computer network installation, integration, upgrades, maintenance and repair for small to midsized businesses. GEEK-AID^®'s team of IT experts comprises top specialists in different IT services, serving clients onsite and remotely for Macs, PCs and all your connected devices in all five boroughs of New York City. More importantly, when your business network goes down, they will perform onsite computer repairs if required. And the GEEK-AID^® team doesn't clock out at five o'clock on Friday. They are available to you 24/7, remotely or in person, to ensure your computers, network and data stay up-to-date, healthy and secure. As your business grows, expands its network and adds more devices such as smart controls, smart devices, wireless access and remote access, your network's cybercrime vulnerability and need for cyber security will grow, too. IT support is not just for emergencies. In addition to integrating your system operations and maintaining hardware, software and security, training for your or your employees must also be ongoing. New users and new devices will require additional training to work efficiently and best practices for working with all their connected devices. Hardware and software installation and maintenance, repair, cyber security, network functionality and network protection are interrelated concerns. They must be addressed consistently and proactively to best support the seamless operation of your company, minimizing costly and time-consuming IT-related mistakes.

Call (877) GEEK-AID (877-433-5243) to discuss best practices for your computer system and all of the best IT solutions for your home or SMB.