![]() So while you are checking for firmware updates in your router’s web dashboard, make sure to also check your security settings and change the username and password to something strong and unique. Many Wi-Fi stations come with weak, generic passwords by default that manufacturers intend for you to change. When you log in to your router, if your username and password are something like “admin” and “password,” you have a problem. ■ If you use a router provided by a broadband provider like Comcast or Verizon, call the customer service department and ask whether your equipment has been updated with the latest firmware. Repeat this process every three to six months. ■ If an update is available, choose to install it and let the router restart. Look for a button that lets you check for the latest firmware version. In the router’s web dashboard, click on the firmware settings. ■ After entering the router’s IP address into a web browser, log in to the base station with your username and password. Jot down the number and store it somewhere safe like your filing cabinet. ■ Consult the instruction manual for your router to get its IP address, a string of numbers that you will punch into a web browser for access to the router’s web dashboard. Easier said than done, right? Here is a basic step-by-step for how to do that: “They don’t treat it like they do their air-conditioner or refrigerator, where we all know we should change the filters.”Įven though a router lacks moving parts, it needs to be maintained with the latest security updates. “Most consumers don’t know to patch these things,” said Matt Watchinski, a senior director of Cisco Talos, who helped research the VPNFilter malware. professionals and employees who work remotely conducted by the security firm Tripwire, only 32 percent said they knew how to update their routers with the latest firmware. Our remedy? For starters, make sure your Wi-Fi station is always running the latest version of its “firmware,” or software system, just as you are supposed to keep operating systems up-to-date for your smartphone and computer. TP-Link and Asus did not respond to requests for comment. ![]() Netgear, D-Link and Linksys said they advised people to install the latest security updates and to choose strong usernames and passwords. They could also load spoof versions of an email site you use to steal your password and gain access to your communications. Attackers could use it to load a fake banking site on your computer browser that looks like the one you normally use and steal your credentials and clean out your bank accounts. That means base stations from every well-known router brand were a target for this malware, known as VPNFilter, which is capable of manipulating your web traffic.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |