The digital world is full of surprises. No matter what steps you take to safeguard your online interactions—from avoiding shady websites to ignoring unfamiliar friend requests—there is always some kind of danger lurking in cyberspace.
Last year, Microsoft customers alone faced over 600 million threats every day. And routers served as the entry point for close to 75% of IoT attacks.
Router hijacking is not a new phenomenon, although most people are still a little clueless about it. Chances are you haven’t given your router a second thought since you first set up your home internet connection. But this little device that barely attracts attention can compromise your digital security in ways unimaginable.
Did you know that a simple phishing attack could allow strangers to gain control of your router? The consequences of this can be fairly damaging. Keep reading to learn more.
Router Hijacking: What It’s All About
Phishing is behind a majority of cyber threats, including router hijacking.
Malicious individuals may use targeted phishing attacks, such as emails mimicking your internet service provider, to trick you into revealing the router password.
Phishing links in emails, messages, ads, and websites could also download malware capable of extracting your router login information (we’re talking about things like keyloggers that track account credentials and spyware that steals passwords saved in the browser).
Of course, criminals can hijack your router in other ways, too, like exploiting weak login details and vulnerabilities in firmware. Leaving the default router password unchanged is another common issue. (Manufacturers usually set up the same password for all their routers and figuring it out is not so hard with a little bit of initiative).
But what really happens with router hijacking? To understand this, let’s first break down the process of accessing a website. When you enter a website address (say, www.amazon.com) on a browser, it’s sent to a DNS server to identify the related numerical IP address. This is what helps the browser to locate the right website.
Now, when bad actors take over your router, they can change its settings, especially those related to the DNS servers. This allows them to control your network activity and direct your browser requests to a malicious DNS server, which provides inaccurate IP address details.
As a result, a criminal could determine the sites you visit, which, needless to say, can be pretty dangerous. For instance, they may take you to spoofed websites to steal your login passwords and other sensitive data they could use to siphon money, make unauthorized purchases, access your emails, or target others for fraud.
Hackers can also use shady websites to download malware and steal critical personal information, like your SSN, date of birth, and account credentials. These are valuable data assets that trade at high prices on the dark web.
That’s not all. With access to your router, hijackers may gain control of smart devices connected to your network (think about a stranger taking over your security cameras and watching you and your family around the clock!).
They might also commit crimes using your network, which can implicate your IP address in scams and similar malicious deeds. This could get you into trouble with law enforcement, internet service providers, and many others.
Has Someone Hijacked Your Router? Here’s How to Check
Knowing whether your router is compromised isn’t always easy. It’s because common indicators of hacking can often overlap with signs of other issues.
But in general, you should watch out for the following red flags to identify a router hijacking before things go too far. (Note that two or more of them could be a strong indication that someone outside your household has access to your device).
Signs of a compromised router include:
- Getting directed to the same website, regardless of the web address you enter into the browser.
- Strange pop-ups and software you haven’t noticed before are appearing across multiple devices connected to the router.
- Losing control of the mouse and browser activities (as when someone else has remote access to your devices).
- No longer being able to log in to the router’s web interface.
- Unusually slow internet speed (even when no one is using the internet).
Protect Yourself From a Router Hack
So, how can you regain control of your router and prevent strangers from accessing it? Here are the essential steps to take.
- Avoid using the default login credentials of your router’s web interface. Instead, set up your own password. If you already have one, make sure it’s unique and hard to guess.
- If you have trouble logging in, reset the router. This could take some time and work, but it is cheaper than buying a new device.
- Relook at the router settings and deactivate features that may risk router security (such as those allowing remote access).
- Remove unrecognized devices connected to the router.
- Regularly update the router firmware to get the necessary patches for vulnerabilities. You can do this manually or enable automatic updates.
- Protect identifiable data that could compromise your safety.
- Be careful of links and attachments (on emails, messages, social media DMs, websites, ads, etc.) even if you think you recognize their source.
- Ensure you are on the right website each time you visit a page. For example, check the web address, look for the https:// prefix, and review the site carefully for anything unfamiliar or suspicious.
- Install a reliable virus guard and scan your devices as often as possible.
- Protect your devices, accounts, and files with strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and biometric security features.
Putting It All Together
Sometimes, phishing attacks can expose you to risks in complex ways. Router hijacking is one such instance.
A bad actor gaining control of your router can mean different things, depending on what they are after. Using your router, a stranger can steal your identity, target you for financial fraud, or threaten your privacy by taking over your smart devices. They may even implicate your IP address in criminal activity, putting your reputation and safety at risk.
Therefore, ensure you understand how to identify a router breach so you can act quickly to mitigate threats. Taking cyber precautions to avoid phishing and other unwanted advances is equally important for your digital safety.
