Quick Tips for Sharing WiFi

Protect your home network and stay in control with the Plume Home app, included with Smart WiFi from Ritter Communications.

Whether you’re hosting friends for the weekend or letting the neighbor’s kids hop online, there’s a good chance you’ve shared your WiFi with someone. But handing out your password can come with risks, from security concerns to devices overstaying their welcome on your network.

With Smart WiFi and Plume, you can take a smarter approach. Instead of an all-or-nothing connection, you’ll have powerful tools to manage who connects, what they can access, and when.

1. Create Personalized Access for Each Guest

Rather than setting up a separate guest network, Plume allows you to create individual user profiles within the Home app. It only takes a minute:

• Open the app and tap “+” to add a person
• Assign a name and permissions
• Choose which devices they can connect, and when

This gives you fine-grained control over every connection and keeps your personal devices protected behind the scenes.

2. Protect Your Smart Home Devices

Today’s homes are more connected than ever. From smart speakers and TVs to cameras and thermostats, your network likely supports a lot more than just laptops and phones.

Sharing your main WiFi password gives guests access to the same network these devices use, potentially exposing them to outside connections.

With Plume, you stay in control. Guests can connect to the internet, but you can prevent access to shared devices like printers or smart appliances. That means peace of mind for you, and no accidental interference from guests.

3. Easily See Who’s Connected

Over time, it’s easy to lose track of which devices are still connected to your network. A friend’s phone from last month’s BBQ? Your old tablet? That smart bulb you thought you recycled?

When you have dozens of devices saved on your network, it can open you up to sneaky new kinds of attacks from smart devices that may be vulnerable. By removing unused or unnecessary devices, you can reduce your exposure to this kind of attack.

The Plume Home app gives you a clear, real-time view of every connected device. You can:

• Instantly identify unknown or inactive devices
• Remove or block them with one tap
• Pause WiFi access to individual devices without disrupting the whole network

It’s an easy way to tidy up your network and ensure only the right people (and devices) are online.

4. Use Content Filters and Time Limits for Kids’ Devices

If you have young guests (or your own kids) connecting to WiFi, content filtering can be a lifesaver. With Plume, you can apply age-appropriate restrictions to specific devices or profiles.

You can also set bedtimes or screen time windows using Plume’s Focus feature, ensuring that devices disconnect at set hours. It’s a great way to keep things safe and balanced, without the need to hover over every device.

5. Manage It All from Anywhere

One of the biggest perks of Smart WiFi is being able to manage your network from anywhere. Whether you're across the street or across the state, the Plume Home app puts control in the palm of your hand.

From the app, you can:

• See who’s connected
• Pause or block devices
• Troubleshoot performance
• Get notifications when new devices join

If something feels off, like a slowdown during movie night, you’ll have the tools to fix it fast.

Share Smarter with Ritter Communications

Sharing WiFi doesn’t have to mean sacrificing control. With Smart WiFi powered by Plume, included with every Ritter Communications internet package, you can offer guests access that’s secure, customizable, and easy to manage.

Instead of handing out your main password and hoping for the best, take a moment to set things up through the Plume Home app. It’s a small step that goes a long way toward protecting your network and keeping everything running smoothly.

Check out our Smart Wifi offerings, featuring the Plume Home app with every plan.