EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

There are millions of routers across the world. There’s one in every household, every office, and every coffee shop. Wi-fi routers likely represent the single most commonly used network device that’s capable of causing huge quantities of damage on all levels. From private data theft, to theft of business secrets to state-level attacks, routers are in at the center of a new security debacle.

In May 2018, the FBI issued a warning, recommending for everyone to reboot their routers. “Owners are advised to consider disabling remote-management settings on devices and secure with strong passwords and encryption when enabled. Network devices should be upgraded to the latest available versions of firmware.”

This warning was made after one security firm revealed that 500,000 routers had recently incurred infections. With a single command, hacking groups were able to collect private data or destroy the internal functions of infected devices, instantaneously.

Routers are just like a remote door to our professional or personal lives. They’re often poorly protected doors that, once entered, can expose our digital identities, opening up other, more valuable doors for hackers.

The question is, given the ubiquity of routers, is it possible to protect them and to prevent attacks?

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