How To Fix A Hacked Router & Protect Your WiFi
Do you know that router is the easiest target for hackers and no routers are 100% hack-proof? Security researchers discovered that approx. 3,00,000 home routers, internet connection devices, and firewalls have been attacked by attackers. The worst thing is when the router gets hacked, all the security of its connected devices is in danger.
So, How to Fix a Hacked Router? It’s really easy, just disconnect the router, reboot it, change the username and password, set an SSID, guest network, lastly update the firmware. To know the detailed process of fixing a hacked router, stay with this guide till the end.
How Do You Know If Your Router Is Hacked?
Most people use a home wifi router for apartment. This router is responsible for making a proper connection between the home WiFi and the internet-connected devices.
A particular study by the security company Avast discovered that about 80 percent of Americans do not properly secure their routers. This is the main reason behind hacking the routers. But how can you understand that your router has been hacked? Well, if you face the following issues then it’s a red flag for you.
- The net connection will become slower suddenly.
- Your router’s login is not working anymore.
- You will find some unknown devices or IP addresses connected to your router.
- The DNS setting will be changed.
- Your router’s admin credentials will be changed.
- Unfamiliar software gets access to your device.
- Without your permission software installations are taking place.
Danger of Hacked Router
In 2018, the top federal cybersecurity agency, US-CERT, announced that Russian hackers had attacked internet-connected devices throughout the U.S., including private home’s network routers. It implies, no one is safe and hackers can do a wide range of damage to anyone.
Once hackers take full control over your router they can steal all your personal data. They can easily override the DNS setting and make you an easy target of DNS hijacking. Hackers can inject malware, and it is enough to damage the entire home network. Besides, they can access illegal content, attack other people, and map your WiFi network also.
In 2018, the FBI issued a public service announcement about VPNFilter malware. In this announcement, they stated that foreign cyber actors used VPNFilter malware to target small offices and home routers. This malware can perform all the above things and compromise thousands of routers.
How To Fix A Hacked Router
According to Statista, As of 2019, 86.6 percent of total U.S. households reported having some internet subscription. From the above discussion, it is clear that no router is safe from hacking. So, if your router is hacked, the good news is you can regain control following the below processes. So without further ado, let’s learn How to Fix a Hacked Router.
Disconnect the Router
Unplug all the internet cables from the router. In this way, hackers can’t access the router. If there are any devices still connected with the router, physically unplug those as well.
Reboot It
Now, it’s time to reset the router from its factory default setting. Most routers are designed with a dedicated reboot button, and it requires a paperclip for pressing. So, hold it until the device shuts down. You can get help from the manual user if finding difficulties in figuring out the reset button.
Change the Admin Credentials
Turn the device on and log in with the default username and password. You will find this information on the manual guide or the manufacturer’s website. Once logged in successfully, immediately change the admin password. This thing will prevent the hacker from logging back in.
Setup a New Wifi Network SSID
Create a complex name and password for your wireless network. Because the more complex the network name, the harder it will be to crack. Make sure your password length is more than 15 characters with a combination of upper and lower letters, symbols, and numbers.
Turn on the Guest Network
Do not forget to set up a guest wifi network for your router. It allows the connected devices to access the internet but staying out of the primary network. It is the ideal feature for protecting the home devices from attackers.
Update Router’s Firmware
Unfortunately, most routers won’t update the firmware automatically. So, you should do it by yourself whenever a firmware update is available. Go to the routers admin menu and locate the firmware settings and update it to the most current version.
Turn Off Remote Management
Remote management allows access to the network from different locations. But it’s an easy way for hackers to gain access to your router from anywhere virtually. So, the best decision will be to turn it off.
How To Secure Your Router
The best thing is by taking some initiatives or actions, you can simply ensure the proper security of your router. The following steps will reduce the chance of hacking your route.
Changing Wifi and Admin Password Regularly
Following the good password, the guidance makes sure to change the WiFi and admin password frequently. It will prevent hackers from accessing the router easily.
Stop Broadcasting Router’s Details
By default, the SSID broadcasts the router’s type and the internet service provider you are using. So, while set up, change the wireless network’s name as soon as possible.
Disable WPS
WPS allows devices to connect at a push of a button, and this is an insecure function. So, if possible, turn this function off.
Enable WPA2 Wireless Encryption
Look out if the router has WPA2 encryption or not. Use it by checking the manual guide by enabling the encryption.
Frequently Inspect Connected Devices
Log in to the router’s control panel and check how many devices are connected to it. Inspect the connected devices every so often.
Conclusion
Avast research shows that 60% of users never logged in to their router or never updated the router’s firmware worldwide. Which leaves the routers potentially vulnerable to fairly simple attacks. So, when the attackers gain access to the router, they gain access to all devices connected to its network as well.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure the security of the routers to prevent them from hacking. This guide shows every possible thing for How to Fix a Hacked Router along with how to keep the router secure. So, apply all these actions and keep the network threat-free.
