Change your routers default password
Hains Jose
Security Operations Team Lead @ LCM Security Inc. | Cybersecurity Expert | GIAC Certified Incident Handler | Fortinet Certified Professional | Security+
Eighty-two percent of 2,205 people surveyed said they had never changed their router's default administrative password. Similarly, 82 percent had never changed the default network name, 86 percent had never updated the routers firmware, 70 percent had never checked to see if any unknown devices were on their networks and 69 percent had never even changed the default Wi-Fi access password.
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/change-router-default-passwords,news-26975.html
How default passwords make routers vulnerable?
An admin panel with default password is vulnerable within the network. Intruders can perform Wardriving to find vulnerable routers in a particular area.
Wardriving - Wardriving consists of physically searching for wireless networks with vulnerabilities from a moving vehicle and mapping the wireless access points. Wardrivers will use hardware and software to find Wi-Fi signals in a particular area. They may intend to only find a single network or every network within an area
After attacker gets an access, they can change DNS setting and intercept data. They can send you phishing emails or malicious link. If have below average knowledge about the attack type, your network and connected system will be compromised.
Router manufactures never care about your safety. The default passwords will be under each router and anyone can access it. We should change the routers password after the first use. In case of router, the username and password will be admin admin. Changing the default passwords will prevent potential attacks.
How to protect your home network?
- Update router and device firmware
- Turn off services that not frequently used
- Set strong passwords for routers and network
- View connected devices to the network
How to access your router?
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Wi-Fi Settings.
- Tap and hold on your connected network and select Manage Network Settings.
- Check the box next to Show Advanced Options.
- Select Static under IP Settings.
- Your router IP address is listed under the Gateway section.
Another method:
- Open command prompt
- Type ipconfig
- You will find IPaddress in gateway
- Copy that IP in browser
- Username/password will be ‘admin’
Reference
https://www.passwordcoach.com/the-password-blog/2018/1/3/doing-a-home-inspection-then-now-would-be-a-good-time-to-change-your-wireless-routers-default-password#:~:text=If%20you're%20opening%20your,same%20way%20that%20you%20can.&text=Having%20persons%20unknown%20on%20your%20home%20network%20is%20bad%20news.
https://www.lifewire.com/changing-default-password-on-wifi-network-816567
https://www.cnet.com/news/defending-your-router-and-your-identity-with-a-password-change/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/change-router-default-passwords,news-26975.html