The guest room is ready, the refrigerator is stocked, but have you thought about preparing your Wi-Fi network and devices for guest use? Inevitably, the second question friends and family ask after “How are you?” is ‘What’s your Wi-Fi password?” And if they’re house guests, you can be sure they’ll want access to your Wi-Fi and possibly your computer as well. This poses a security risk to you, but there are steps you can take to avoid a mishap.

This is not to imply your guest is a hacker — if that’s the case, your troubles are beyond this column. When a person logs into your Wi-Fi, they have access to any device on the network: your computers, phones, tablets, smart thermostats, smart appliances, a printer, security cameras and doorbells. While it’s unlikely any of your guests would intentionally sabotage your network, there’s a chance that the device they are using to connect to your network is infected with some sort of malware. If it is, there’s a possibility that this malware could be spread to other devices connected to your network.

To prevent this from happening, you’ll want to set up a guest network. Your router should include the option, which creates a separate connection for your visitors, and one that will not allow access to your devices. If your router is old, you may not have that option and then should consider buying a new router that will keep you secure.

Each router may have different instructions to set up a guest network, but the process will start with gaining access to the admin interface based on your router’s brand and mode. If you don’t know how to do this, search for your router online and locate the support section on the website where you should find the how-tos you need. You’ll need to log in with your username and password. You should see it on the bottom of the device if you didn’t change the password that came with your router.

For better security, take this opportunity to change the default password to a more secure one. Make a note of your new router password and do not use a password you’ve used elsewhere.

Once you’ve gained admin access, go to the setup for a guest network. You’ll create a new password for your guests. Choose one that’s more than 12 characters and easy to remember. Hotels, restaurants and Airbnbs often use the venue name in the password. You might choose something like Welcometothesmithhouse2024.

Because the guest network does not allow access to your main network, it’s fine to go with this less-strict password. Of course, the guest password will be different than your main Wi-Fi password. You might want to change the guest password after the holiday season to provide an extra layer of security.

In the setup window, look for options to receive alerts when someone logs on or there is new activity on your network. This will let you check to be sure that it’s your guests on your Wi-Fi. If you see activity that looks suspicious, change the password.

Similarly, you can create a guest profile for your computer if you have a guest who requests to use it. Your guests may have had the best intentions to stay off their computers while on holiday and decided not to pack their laptops, but an urgent email may prompt a request to use yours. To protect your files and system, a guest profile will do the trick.

You can provide a guest profile that has limited capabilities. They’ll be able to work on their presentations but they won’t be able to make changes to your system or access your files.

Even though Microsoft eliminated the guest account option starting with Windows 10, you can still create a new local account that doesn’t require a password or email. Go to “Settings” and click “Accounts.” Click “Family & other users” and then “Add account” under “Other users.” Proceed to create the account. For Mac users, go to “Settings” and search “Users & Groups.” Here you’ll see “Guest User,” which you can toggle on. Note you have the option to turn on “limit adult websites” and “allow guest users to connect to shared folders,” which you’ll likely want to leave off.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.

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