Most of us have learned to let our phones and computers update. The small box that connects everything to the internet is much easier to forget.
Your Wi-Fi router sits between every device in your home or office and the outside world. Like any computer, it runs software, and that software needs security fixes from time to time.
Why it matters
Criminals scan the internet constantly, looking for routers with known flaws or factory passwords that were never changed. A router that has been taken over can quietly send you to fake websites, watch traffic that isn’t encrypted, or be used to attack other people. Often there is no sign anything is wrong.
A 15-minute check
- Find out who looks after it. If your internet provider supplied the router, it may update on its own. Ask them. If you bought it yourself, updates are your job.
- Look for a firmware update. Sign in to the router’s settings page or app and check for updates. If there’s an option for automatic updates, turn it on.
- Change the admin password. The password for the router’s settings is not the same as your Wi-Fi password. Make it long and unique, and keep it in a password manager.
- Use strong Wi-Fi security. Choose WPA3 if your router offers it, or WPA2 if not. Never leave the network open or set to the old WEP setting.
- Switch off what you don’t use. Remote management and WPS (the push-button pairing feature) are handy for some people, but they’re extra doors. If you don’t need them, close them.
- Check what’s connected. Most routers show a list of devices. If you see something you don’t recognise, change your Wi-Fi password.
When it’s time to replace it
Routers don’t get updates forever. If the maker has stopped supporting yours, or the settings page shows no updates in years, it’s time for a new one. An unsupported router is a lot like an unsupported computer: it may still work fine, but nobody is fixing its holes anymore.
While you’re in there, it’s a good moment to review your other passwords too. Our tip on moving past one password everywhere walks through it.
Not sure where to start, or can’t find the settings page? Get in touch and we’ll help you sort it out.