Router Safety

by patndoris on Jan.19, 2011,under Security/Cleanup

By now, everyone knows they should have an up to date anti-virus program installed and running at all times. (Although knowing it and actually doing it are sometimes two different things.)  And most people probably have an assortment of tools they prefer when cleaning up infections on their machines, clearing out junk folders, removing spyware, cookies and caches, etc.  But what happens when all your scans come up clean yet browser redirects, popups or performance issues continue?

One thing not as many people know is that routers (you know that lovely little box that actually helps us be connected to the internet and is the hub for our home network) can be hijacked just like a computer.  It can be infected where instead of just harmlessly connecting you to the internet, it is routing you through a malicious server that can do all kinds of nasty and unexpected things - including spread malware to all the machines on your network.

The way to most significantly reduce the chance of this happening to you is to change the password and login to your router to something more secure than the default settings.  This alone will make your router a much harder target and hijackers will probably move on.

If you do think your router is even possibly infected, here’s what to do:

How to Reset your Router

Most routers have a reset pin hole on the back.

1.  With the unit on, place an straightened paper clip into the hole on the back on the unit labeled Reset.
2.  Hold the paperclip/reset down for 10 seconds or soand then release it.
3.  The unit will reboot on its own.
4.  As soon as all the lights stop blinking, the unit is ready.
5.  You will need to reinstall the router to regain your internet access.

Note: If you changed your password, it will be gone so refer to your user’s guide for your router and make sure you get it set to something stronger than the default!


Of course, if you are ever in doubt as to handle malware infections on your machine (or your router), you can request assistance in one of many forums that offer free help. I work in the forums at What The Tech and they have a great group of dedicated people who can assist if you are not able to clean up your computer on your own. 

:infections, router, router infection, routers, security