Routers might just look like benign little boxes, but they are the cornerstone on which hangs a great amount of how secure an entire network is going to be. However, any great thing also presents enormous risk. These devices are classic targets and, if exposed (which they usually are), would be a hacker’s perfect way to penetrate vulnerabilities across your business’ network infrastructure.
Changing type router vulnerabilities are another security problem when it comes to API security. Each can lead to a different possible disaster but together all types of vulnerability in these hardware could indicate an opportunity for the hackers and malicious agents.
In this article, we explore the vulnerabilities inherently found in routers and how businesses can better protect their data with the reinforcement of cybersecurity measures.
Common Router Vulnerabilities
Routers aren’t free from bugs, and that’s the nature of technology. The main weaknesses in routers you can come across are:
Default Credentials
More common problems with routers is that users never change the default login (username and password). Routers are often shipped with as default login credentials, commonly “admin” or even just plain old “password.” Regrettably, lots of people forget to change those after they install everything else — meaning that their routers are missiles waiting to be launched by brute-force. With the use of a common password list, these hackers can exploit and gain unauthorized access to these credentials.
Outdated Firmware
Firmware is the software with which a router performs its functions. Manufacturers constantly release updates to fill security gaps, improve performance and bring new features. But the firmware of their router, it is not many users updating — update which could be exploited by hackers. Old firmware typically presents itself with vulnerabilities that hackers can use to breach into your network.
Weak Encryption Protocols
Data transmitted over the network between routers is protected by encryption protocols such as WEP, WPA and WPA2. On the other hand, with some old routers they are still using outdated encryption standards like WEP and it can be cracked easily via simple hacking tool. Even WPA2, which was previously highly secure has been subject to recent vulnerabilitiesWorse still is even with a good password in use
Open Ports
Routers, for example are usually shipped with many open ports resulting in potential leak and cyberattacks opportunities. The less ports you have opened the higher is your security, leaving unnecessary ports wide open makes it easier for attackers to hack into sensitive data or get control over of that router itself.
DNS Hijacking
Another major security threat is DNS hijacking where the attackers intercept router DNS settings (which are normally configured from a user account) and redirect them to rogue servers. Anyhow, the moment they control DNS now is when they redirect legitimate web traffic over to phony phishing sites/other harmful destinations. Users might not even realize that they are being attacked as the URL in their browser is usually unchanged, making it all look very legitimate.
How Cybersecurity Is Affected by These Vulnerabilities
The various vulnerabilities highlighted earlier can have a huge impact on the cybersecurity of an individual as well as for business. The ways in which router vulnerabilities can affect your network security are:
When Personal Data Is Accessed Without Authorization
When a router is vulnerable, it can give full access to incoming and outgoing traffic. This allows them to record personal information like login details, financial data, and private messages. Eventually, exploiting this data for identity theft, financial fraud or even blackmail can serve as a great way to do it.
Network Takeover
Hackers can own a network by penetrating the routers. They may bring malware onto connected devices, prevent legitimate traffic from being exchanged or even use the breached network to launch attacks on other networks and systems. Routers, for instance, have been converted into zombie machines in botnets that launch big Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on websites and online services.
Ransomware Deployment
Attackers will use ransomware to encrypt the data on MergeCAD and then ask for a fee as soon as users begin using their network. Remember how more than one far-reaching ransomware attack was started through compromised router at small to medium-sized businesses, people just like you in 2023 alone?
Tactic: Phishing Attacks Through DNS Hijacking
DNS hijacking presents an especially nefarious problem due to its ability to reroute traffic surreptitiously. After a DNS attack, an attacker can send the user to phishing sites to get passwords or personal information. When users visit what they believe are trustworthy sites, however, the fakes subtly steal sensitive information; even posing cybersecurity danger.
Raising the Risk of IoT Attacks
The growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is requiring more focus on securing routers. The security of many IoT devices — smart thermostats, cameras, and speakers to name a few examples – rarely exceeds the hip protocol specifications. From there, the situation gets worse as all of the IoT devices take on that vulnerability meaning bad actors can now easily access personal data or even get full control over home automation systems.
Protect Yourself: Ways to Defend a Router from Cyber Threats
Thankfully, setting up your router securely doesn’t have to be a complicated or time-consuming endeavour. What can you do to make your router less prone to cyber threats?
Change Default Username and Password Immediately
After installing your router, remember to change the default username and password. For passwords, the combination of letters with numbers and special characters can lessen chances for brute force attacks.
Keep Router Firmware Updated
Update your router firmware, do it at least once in a month to check for the latest updates from the manufacturer. Most routers today allow for an automatic update check and install process, so ensure that the unit updates are applied as soon they are released.
Enable Strong Encryption
These days, routers use the latest encryption protocols such as WPA3 to secure your Wi-Fi. WPA3 provides significantly more security and mitigate risks that rely on cracking WEP or capturing alliance handshakes as with the FreiFunk attack.
Close Unnecessary Ports
Check your router settings and see if any open ports are not necessary and close it. If you have to allow port forwarding for apps, ensure that these allowed ports are well taken care of by instoring strong passwords or etc.
Activate Router Firewalls and Implement Network Segmentation
Most routers come equipped with internal firewalls, and you will definitely want to turn on your router firewall as an added measure. Moreover, you can also network segment less secure devices like smart TVs or IoT appliances from highly sensitive machines such as your own computer and server to minimize the risk of cross-infection between them.
Routers have become one of the internet’s forgotten classes, with bugs certainly preventing large swathes of remote code execution opening up through simple attacks. This will help you prevent one of the biggest router vulnerabilities and keep hackers at bay to maintain an adept handle on protecting your data.
