Freelancers, Secure Your Internet Connection with These 6 Steps

How to Secure Your Home Internet

Freelancers depend on fast, trustworthy internet for meetings, file delivery, invoicing, and cloud tools — and attackers increasingly target independent pros. Industry reporting shows social engineering and stolen credentials continue to drive most breaches, while business email compromise remains the costliest online crime category. Generative‑AI is making phishing and impersonation more convincing, so strong identity controls and network hygiene matter as much as raw speed. See the Verizon DBIR, FBI IC3, and Microsoft Digital Defense Report for current evidence and guidance.

This guide brings together current network performance targets and practical security steps validated by government and platform guidance. You’ll find plan sizing by workload and device count, hardened router settings based on CISA recommendations, phishing‑resistant sign‑in tactics (passkeys and hardware security keys), audited VPN options, and backup/storage strategies that protect client data end‑to‑end.

Because most freelancers rely on the internet and conduct the majority of their work and client relations online, it’s essential to have a strong, secure internet connection. Without a company internet network or IT team, you’ll have to be proactive about your security, reliability, and performance — including upload speed, latency, jitter, and packet loss for live meetings and streaming.

We’ve consulted platform documentation and security agencies, and spoke with freelancers on our team to build a concise, research‑driven playbook for protecting your connection, workflow, and client data.

Here’s a quick checklist to sum up essential steps. We’ll explain why each matters and how to implement them using trusted references.

• Find fast speeds from a reliable internet provider (for most freelancers, aim for at least 200 Mbps download and 25 Mbps upload; 300/50 is comfortable for multi‑device homes; keep 2–3× headroom for live calls/streams and watch latency/jitter/packet loss per Microsoft and ITU‑T thresholds)
• Use complex passwords and secure your accounts (store unique credentials in a manager; enable passkeys and hardware security keys using FIDO2/WebAuthn per NIST and FIDO Alliance)
• Buy your own wireless router and customize the settings (use WPA3, change admin credentials, disable WPS and UPnP, segment IoT on a separate SSID/VLAN, enable auto‑updates; follow CISA guidance)
• Invest in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for protection on public/untrusted Wi‑Fi; prefer audited providers with modern protocols and RAM‑only servers per Wirecutter and ExpressVPN Trust Center
• Update software and equipment regularly (OS, apps, firmware, router; replace end‑of‑life gear; check CISA KEV for exploited router CVEs)
• Organize your digital storage system and backup files regularly (use versioning, link expirations/access controls, and a 3‑2‑1 backup with at least one offline/immutable copy; enable end‑to‑end encryption where available)

Start With a Reliable Internet Connection

Reliable connectivity protects your income and reputation. Real‑time quality for Zoom/Teams/Meet depends on latency, jitter, and packet loss — not just speed. Typical HD calls are low single‑digit Mbps per participant (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet), but you should provision 2–3× your steady‑state bitrate to absorb variability. Aim for jitter <30 ms and packet loss <1% (Teams guidance), and keep one‑way latency under 150 ms for conversational quality (ITU‑T G.114).

Actionable targets: most solo freelancers are well‑served by 200/25 Mbps or higher; multi‑device homes and frequent HD calls benefit from 300/50; developers and designers see gains at 500/100; media creators should prefer 1 Gbps symmetrical fiber for fast uploads. The FCC updated the U.S. broadband benchmark to 100/20 Mbps — a useful floor, not a power‑user target (FCC Broadband Deployment Report). Global fixed speeds continue to rise as fiber expands (Ookla Global Index).

Right‑size your plan by listing your peak concurrent activities (e.g., two HD calls plus a cloud backup) and summing their steady‑state bandwidth from platform guidance. Multiply by 2–3× for headroom. For uploads, rough timing math helps: minutes ≈ (GB × 8 ÷ upload Mbps) × 60. A 20 GB render takes ~27 minutes at 100 Mbps up, or a few minutes on 1 Gbps fiber. For live streaming, YouTube’s encoder guidance suggests ~6–8 Mbps for 1080p and up to ~51 Mbps for 4K; target ≥20–100 Mbps upload for stability (YouTube).

Light use: email, research, basic cloud apps, SD/HD streaming. Writers/analysts: 200/25 Mbps is a practical minimum.
Moderate use: regular HD calls, screen sharing, and collaboration; consultants/project managers: 300/50 Mbps+ recommended; plan for 2–3× call bitrate headroom.
High use: developers/designers with frequent uploads and sync: 500/100 Mbps preferred; low jitter (<30 ms) and loss (<1%) help remote IDEs and large file transfers.
Very high use: video/motion graphics and live streaming: target ≥1 Gbps symmetrical fiber; 1080p live needs ~20 Mbps upload headroom; 4K can require ≥50–100 Mbps up (YouTube). Keep one‑way latency under 150 ms (ITU‑T).

Though it may be more expensive, a reliable internet connection is an investment in your business. When your connection fails, your work stops — and there’s no corporate IT to bail you out. Consider a wired Ethernet line for critical calls/uploads, enable QoS/SQM on your router to prevent bufferbloat, and keep a 5G hotspot as backup if deadlines are inflexible.

To find the best internet in your area, search the internet for providers in your city, inquire with neighbors, and check your address among top internet providers. 

Let’s Talk Taxes: If your home has a qualifying dedicated office space in your home, a portion of your internet and utilities bills can be deducted from your taxes. Deduct only the business‑use percentage you can document. If you use the simplified home office method, you can’t also include utilities (like internet) in that home office calculation; if you use the actual‑expenses method, include the business share of utilities there and don’t also deduct it separately. The simplified method is $5 per square foot (up to 300 sq. ft.). Employees generally can’t deduct home office expenses through 2025. For details, see IRS Publication 587, Schedule C Instructions, Simplified Option, and Topic No. 514. And our teammates with freelance experience reminded us that it’s best to file your estimated taxes quarterly.

Complex passwords and secure sign-ins

Even if you don’t reuse passwords, credential theft and AITM phishing can steal both passwords and session cookies. Massive leaks at major platforms like Yahoo, LinkedIn, eHarmony illustrate the risk of re‑use. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com and rotate any compromised or reused credentials. Prefer phishing‑resistant sign‑ins: passkeys and hardware security keys (FIDO2/WebAuthn) are recommended in current NIST guidance and industry reports.

See if your information has been leaked: You can check to see whether your email has been compromised in a data breach at haveibeenpwned.com. The name may be silly, but the site is serious. If you enter your email, the site will list the specific breaches that your email may have been exposed in. If you find potential breaches: Don’t use the same password you had for that account on any others, change passwords if you still have an account with that website, and consider using a password manager and passkeys or hardware security keys where supported.

Use a password manager to generate and store long, unique passwords; turn on passkeys wherever offered; and protect your most important accounts (email, storage, bank, password manager) with security keys. For dedicated managers, current research consistently highlights 1Password and Bitwarden for mature zero‑knowledge designs, cross‑platform support, and passkey capability. Apple‑only freelancers can lean on the new Passwords app built on iCloud Keychain with end‑to‑end encryption (Apple); browser‑centric users may prefer Google Password Manager. Compliance‑sensitive work can look to Keeper; and independent reviewers continue to advise caution with LastPass post‑incident (Mozilla).

It’s tough to remember unique credentials for every site, so let your manager handle it and enable biometric unlock on trusted devices. Keep clients’ credentials in separate shared vaults, review vault health periodically, and avoid storing passwords in documents or email. Enable account alerts for new sign‑ins and OAuth grants; set a carrier account PIN/port‑freeze and a SIM PIN to reduce SIM‑swap risk. Needless to say, safeguarding client data is core to your business.

Key Takeaways

• Check to see if any of your accounts have been compromised in a data breach on haveibeenpwned.com
• Create complex and unique passwords for all you important accounts, and enable passkeys and hardware security keys where possible
• Consider a password manager to store and secure login credentials (1Password, Bitwarden, or built‑in options if your needs are simple)

Ramp up your router

Your router is your first line of defense and a common target for attackers. CISA’s home router guidance emphasizes enabling automatic updates, changing default admin credentials, using WPA3, disabling remote management, and segmenting guest/IoT devices. CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog routinely lists actively exploited router CVEs, so lifecycle management matters — replace end‑of‑life gear rather than leaving it unpatched (CISA, CISA KEV).

First, we recommend you purchase your own router, rather than rent one from your internet provider. Look for models that publish a support timeline, support WPA3, offer automatic/signed firmware updates, guest networks and VLANs for segmentation, and management MFA. Recent rules in some jurisdictions ban default passwords and require disclosure of support periods, raising the bar for consumer routers (UK PSTI).

The 411 on Firewalls: A firewall filters traffic to and from the internet and blocks suspicious activity. In your router’s settings (often under Security or Firewall), enable it and block WAN pings; remove unused port forwards and any DMZ settings; and turn off UPnP/NAT‑PMP unless a trusted app truly needs it. These steps align with CISA recommendations. If your router doesn’t include a firewall, you can add one separately.

When first setting up your WiFi network, never keep the default network name (SSID) and password. Change the router’s admin username and password to long, unique credentials and store them in your password manager. Create a separate “Work” SSID for your devices and a distinct guest/IoT SSID that cannot access your work devices (enable client isolation). Access the admin console (often 192.168.1.1 or similar) over HTTPS, and disable legacy management protocols like Telnet/FTP.

Here are some other router settings we’d recommend to help secure your connection:

☑ Enable strong Wi‑Fi encryption. Choose WPA3‑Personal (SAE). If you must support older devices, use WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode while you plan upgrades; avoid WEP/TKIP.
☑ Create a separate network for guests/IoT. Use a guest SSID or VLAN with internet‑only access and inter‑client isolation so untrusted devices can’t reach your work devices.
☑ Disable WPS and UPnP. Turn off push‑button/PIN WPS and UPnP/NAT‑PMP to reduce attack surface; remove stale port mappings.
☑ Disable remote administration. Keep management restricted to your LAN; if cloud management is required, enable MFA and IP allow‑listing. Use HTTPS for local admin.

Even after you’ve got your router all set up and secure, you’ll still have to be proactive about its security. Doug Brennan, a digital security expert at Digital Addicts, told us routers can develop exploitable weaknesses that are fixed by firmware updates — but only if you apply them. Enable automatic updates, subscribe to your vendor’s advisories, and replace any device that lacks WPA3 or auto‑update support. If you suspect compromise, disconnect WAN, back up configs, factory‑reset, update to the latest firmware, re‑secure credentials, and re‑segment networks. Check the CISA KEV list to prioritize patching/replacement.

Invest in a VPN

VPNs encrypt your traffic on untrusted networks and can reduce data exposure when traveling or working from cafes. Modern services emphasize faster protocols (WireGuard‑class), RAM‑only servers, and independent audits. Look for a reliable kill switch, robust leak protection, and obfuscation if you encounter network restrictions. Independent reviews in 2025 prioritize providers with recurring audits and transparent designs (Wirecutter).

“VPNs encrypt your web traffic in a tunnel, replacing your IP address with a new one. This is extremely useful if you’re on a public Wi‑Fi network, as [they] makes you much more susceptible to hacking. I recommend getting a VPN with a kill switch. That means that if the VPN fails, all of your web activity will automatically shut down, protecting your traffic.”

Gabe Turner, Director of Content at Security Baron.

You can connect to your VPN from anywhere and on any internet connection. Note that VPNs add some latency and CPU overhead, so pick a router/endpoint that can sustain your line rate when the VPN is on if a client requires it. Prefer providers with verifiable trust signals: ExpressVPN documents RAM‑only servers and multiple third‑party audits (and open‑sourced its Lightway protocol) in its Trust Center; Proton publishes a live transparency report; Mullvad has begun hybrid post‑quantum key exchange for WireGuard in line with NIST’s 2024 PQ standards. In speed testing, WireGuard‑based implementations consistently outperform legacy OpenVPN (PCMag).

There are many VPN services you can purchase, typically for around $5 to $12 per month. Look for modern, fast protocols (WireGuard‑class), a reliable kill switch, independent audits and no‑logs claims, and RAM‑only servers. ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, and Mullvad are well‑known examples that emphasize performance and transparency.

Maintain updated equipment and secure storage

Stop deferring updates. Keep your OS, browsers, and apps on auto‑update; enable full‑disk encryption; and run reputable endpoint protection. For critical work, use wired Ethernet or modern Wi‑Fi (6/6E/7) and place the router centrally. Enabling QoS/Smart Queue Management can stabilize calls while large uploads run. Jason Glassberg, an ethical hacker and co‑founder of Casaba Security, told us that, “The best way to protect both you personally and your employer is by using a current model PC or laptop with fully updated software and antivirus,” also recommending that users “don’t use that computer for non-work related activities.”

Go beyond sync: implement a 3‑2‑1 backup (at least 3 copies, on 2 different media/locations, with 1 offline or immutable). Choose storage with MFA, link passwords/expirations, and version history/restore. Examples: Apple’s iCloud Drive with Advanced Data Protection enables end‑to‑end encryption for most data types (Apple ADP); Google Drive supports client‑side encryption on eligible Workspace plans (Google CSE); OneDrive offers Personal Vault, ransomware detection, and file restore (OneDrive security); Dropbox provides reliable sync, granular link controls, and Rewind/versioning (Dropbox). For end‑to‑end, zero‑knowledge storage by default, consider Proton Drive or Sync.com. Protect storage accounts with security keys and review shared links periodically.

What’s next?

• Want to reevaluate your internet package? Get started with our To find the best internet.
• Check out our favorite your own router that make it easy to customize security.

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