As you probably know by now, pretty much anything with a computer chip in it can be hacked.
What you might not know is that hackers are busy attacking routers all around the world as we speak.
And guess what? Your router could be one of the unlucky devices that have been hacked already. The good news is you can find out right now if that’s indeed the case.
Vulnerabilities in some routers’ firmware code allow hackers to change some of the router’s critical settings.
For example, altering the Domain Name Server (DNS) settings enables them to instruct your router to send your Internet requests to malware-infested servers and fake websites.
If that happens it could result in malware being downloaded onto your computer or mobile device and/or having your identity and online accounts compromised. Bad, bad stuff for sure.
Luckily, our friends over at F-Secure have created a handy tool for checking your router to make sure it hasn’t been hacked. The test couldn’t be easier to use. Here’s all you have to do:
1 – Visit this page on the F-Secure website.
2 – Click the blue Check your router button.
After you click the button the tool will check your router’s settings to make sure they haven’t been changed to values that are known to be incorrect or malicious. The entire test takes mere seconds and the results will be displayed right on your screen.
If the test detects an issue, you’ll need to check with your Internet Service Provider to determine what the real settings should be. Your router’s manual should tell you how to change the settings back to their correct values.
And by the way, don’t forget to change your router’s password if it has indeed been hacked.
The password I’m talking about is the password you use to access the router’s Settings screen, not the password for your WiFi network (but I recommend that you change that one as well).
That’s all there is to it. Good luck!
Bonus tip: Click here to find out if you’re actually getting the upload and download speeds you’re paying for from your Internet Internet Service Provider (ISP).
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