How I Hacked a Wi-Fi Router Using Default Credentials
Shina Salau
Data Scientist || Former Cyber Security Intern @Prodigy InfoTech || IT Support || Bash Enthusiast
Your Wi-fi Default Password is not Safe
Hello there!
Wi-Fi is everywhere these days, we have it at home, work, and public spaces. But with this convenience comes a great risk. Many people overlook the security of their Wi-Fi routers and leave the default passwords unchanged. That's a terrible thing to do, LOL ??. This little oversight can let hackers in and give them full control of your network and the ability to use it however they want. You need to understand these risks to protect your personal and sensitive info from being accessed by others.
Logging into a Wi-Fi router with default or weak credentials offers hackers several additional advantages.
Some of the tools I used for the demonstration of this post are:
Disclaimer: This tutorial is intended for educational purposes only. The author is not responsible for any misuse of the information provided.
Scan for the Router's IP Address
Next, I scanned for the Wi-Fi router's IP address using BetterCap. You can also use tools like `Nmap`, `ip`, or ipconfig, but I chose bettercap for this demonstration.
Access the Router
After running the command, I found the router's IP address and entered it into my Google Chrome browser. This took me to the router's home page.
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Log In with Default Credentials
I tried a common default username and password:
username: admin
password: admin
And it worked!
What a Hacker Can Do with Router Access
Once logged in, a hacker can manipulate various settings. Here are some examples:
Change DHCP Settings: A hacker can redirect the Domain Name Server (DNS) to their private server. This means they can see everything you do online, even if you later change your Wi-Fi password.
Redirect to Phishing Websites: A hacker can lead or redirect you to fake websites that mimic your favourite sites (e.g.., facebook.com, twitter.com and bank web apps) to steal your login credentials.
Install Malicious Firmware: They can also Infect your network devices with malware, giving them control over your devices remotely. What this means is that they can control your devices from anywhere in the world. It doesn't matter if you later changed your password.
In short, gaining access to your Wi-Fi router allows a hacker to perform numerous malicious activities than what I'd mentioned in this post.
So, Change your password now before it's too late.
Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more posts.