Routers are like a gateway between your home devices and the internet. Routers allow multiple connections of your devices and those that don’t support cables, can use Wi-Fi from your router. This means the router is a single point for all your internet communication and if it were to be compromised, then all your devices in your home network will be at risk. This makes routers a lucrative opportunity for malicious actors to exploit. Here are some various ways in which your router can be exploited;
- Wi-Fi 劫持
Wi-Fi劫持可能具有毁灭性，这要看是谁在做。例如，你的邻居可以入侵你的 WLAN，并以你为代价享受免费带宽。如果你的邻居只对带宽感兴趣，这可能不会影响隐私。但你的网络连接可能会因为邻居的行为而变慢。如果您的邻居正在进行非法活动，您还可能会与当局发生冲突。
But if a malicious actor hijacks your Wi-Fi, then you are in serious trouble. Malicious actors can compromise other devices in the network and gain access to sensitive information and even control your router maliciously.
- DDoS 攻击和直接路由器攻击
Malicious actors can directly attack your router and use it to perform other DDoS attacks or be part of a botnet. If it’s the latter, your devices will also join the botnet network and be used to perform other nefarious purposes such as crypto jacking. Crypto jacking will consume not only your bandwidth but also your devices’ processing power hence making them slow.
网络犯罪分子如何入侵你的路由器
网络犯罪分子通常利用漏洞通过路由器传播攻击或劫持路由器。其他时候，他们会利用你的网络意识不强或网络安全措施不到位。
Vulnerabilities may give malicious actors complete authentication, or DNS hijacking and other exploits that gives them total control over your router. Poor cybersecurity practices give away your router details such as passwords to cybercriminals easily. They get this by attacking your router using various techniques. Sometimes they get your router login details online.
保护路由器和其他设备安全的方法
确保路由器安全，就能确保恶意行为者甚至你的邻居不会获取你的个人信息，也不会分别使用你的带宽。安全的路由器还能确保其他设备的安全。以下是确保路由器安全的行之有效的方法；
- 战略性地放置路由器（Wi-Fi 信号）
To avoid malicious actors and your neighbor from hijacking your Wi-Fi, place your router in a strategic place. For instance, place your router centrally in your house, away from the windows and doors. This makes sure that your Wi-Fi network is evenly distributed throughout your house and the minimal signal reaches the neighbors. Nobody hacks into weak Wi-Fi signals. Also, periodically switch off your router and turn it back on after some periods. Restarting solves router problems including removing router malware.
- 更新路由器固件
Updates usually come with security patches to fix flaws and discovered vulnerabilities. Update your router as soon as its update becomes available.
- 正确配置路由器
确保路由器设置达到建议水平。这包括实施正确的安全配置，如 WPA2 加密、设置防火墙（如果路由器有的话）以及使用唯一的强密码（用于路由器和 Wi-Fi）。此外，还要检查路由器是否有其他功能，如访客 Wi-Fi 网络。还要确保最佳实践，如注销路由器管理页面、检查更新，甚至设置有多少设备可以连接到网络（通常是您拥有的设备）。
Install a VPN – IPBurger VPN
Installing a router VPN will protect all your devices and ensure that your internet traffic will never be visible to prying eyes including your ISP and malicious actors. IPBurger router VPN uses strong encryption standards – AES 256 bit for best security and has worldwide servers. IPBurger also offers unlimited bandwidth with lightning speeds.
