FBI is warning people all over the US to take these steps immediately to secure their routers and prevent hacks
The FBI is warning Americans that something sitting in the corner of their homes could actually be putting their personal data at risk: their Wi-Fi routers.
The agency has urged people across the US to take immediate action to secure routers after cybercriminals were found exploiting outdated devices and weak security settings to launch attacks, steal information, and even secretly use home networks for criminal activity.
Routers are one of the easiest devices for hackers to target because most people set them up once and never think about them again.
The good news is that the FBI says there are several easy steps people can take right now to make their routers much safer.
FBI says updating your router could stop hackers in their tracks
One of the biggest tech recommendations from the FBI is surprisingly simple: update your router’s firmware immediately.
Firmware updates patch security holes that hackers actively search for, but older routers often stop receiving updates entirely.
The FBI has specifically warned that outdated routers are increasingly being hijacked by malware and turned into anonymous proxy servers for cybercriminals.
The agency also recommends changing default usernames and passwords because many routers still use factory logins that are publicly available online.
Hackers can often gain access in seconds simply by trying combinations that manufacturers originally shipped with the device.
According to cybersecurity experts, there’s an entire underground economy built around stolen login credentials, and another major tip is to disable remote access features unless you absolutely need them.
Remote management tools can be convenient, but they also create another doorway that attackers can potentially exploit.
The FBI says router settings should ideally only be accessible while physically connected to the network.
Rebooting your WiFi is the way to go
The FBI and NSA have also advised people to reboot their routers regularly, with some guidance suggesting once a week.
That might sound almost too easy, but restarting a router can disrupt certain types of malware and remove malicious temporary code running on the device.
The FBI additionally recommends using stronger Wi-Fi encryption like WPA2 or WPA3, and replacing routers so old they no longer receive security updates at all.
Some outdated models have become prime targets for large-scale malware campaigns.
So while most people worry about viruses on phones and laptops, the biggest weak point in the house could actually be the unassumuing box quietly sitting in the corner.