There is a hack every 39 seconds and here are router security best practices to harden your router
Routers are the gateway that is responsible for connecting your computer to the Internet. Router attacks are projected to be one of the big trends for cyberattacks in 2018. Your router is vulnerable to attacks because it works by using protocols, ports, and uses both software and hardware to function. The combination of all that valuable data makes your router a prime target for hackers. Your router can catch a virus because a router has many vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Routers are becoming a favorite target for hackers. There are five common methods that hackers use to crack your router and gain access to your network. You can mitigate security risks by using router security best practices to harden your router and network.
Router Security Best Practice
Common Cyberattacks Against Routers and Router Security Best Practices
Botnet
There was a cyberattack done by Russia that targeted routers to create a botnet. A botnet is where a device is affected by a malicious software and controlled by a group without the owner’s knowledge. The VPNFilter cyberattack created a botnet and infected over half a million routers. It infected a vulnerability that was common in a number of different brands routers. Read here to see if yours is on the infected devices list.
Man-in-the-Middle
Another common way that routers are compromised is the man-in-the-middle attack. This attack works by a hacker intercepts information that you send from your router to the party receiving and sending you information. A hacker will look for credentials, port information, security changes, etc and then attack once a vulnerability has been found using this attack method. A hacker can hack a router by finding what a router’s IP address, MAC address, and monitoring the traffic on the router’s network.
Ports, Protocols, and Application Attacks
Routers operate using ports, protocols, and applications that are set up in settings and configurations. These are essentially the brain of your router while the casing that you see is the body of your router. Hackers are able to crack different ports, protocols, and applications to gain control of your router.
Cracking Passwords
There are many types of passwords cracking that can use to hack a router. The most common techniques used by hackers are the dictionary, brute force, and phishing attacks. These attacks are standard methods used by hackers to hack into a network or device.
Open and Insecure Network
A router’s network can also be visible and insecure that makes it an easy access point for a hacker. Routers are commonly hacked by hackers by waiting outside a network that is insecure and working to access the network. Networks are also highly vulnerable because users fail to update their routers which increases the number of vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit routers.
Have an Infected Router?
You can run a number of different security tests to know if your router has malware or is if a port leaking data. When you test your router’s security, make sure that you have it set on bridge mode. Router Security provides a quick overview of solutions to test your router. These are some quick router best security practices to test if your router is infected by malware.
Security Solutions
Update and patch your router! That is the first step towards having a more secure router. Always check your router for updates and patches that the manufacturer has released to its users. Make sure you have a strong password that includes letters, numbers, and symbols. You can then go into your browsers security settings and change the security level. Further, you can open or close ports that you do not use to make your router and network more secure. You can improve your security another way by whitelisting and blacklisting known bad IP addresses and websites so that your router cannot connect to them or be sent to them.
Summary
Be aware of security risks and be smart when you are online. These are simple router best security practices that you can use to secure your router. Singles, along with anyone who connects to the Internet, should be aware of a router’s security risks. The risks can be mitigated and your router’s security improved by following the solutions laid out in this article. Secure your router and decrease your chances of being hacked today.
