Can routers catch viruses? With the evolving world of technology, computer and information technology experts have been taking advantage of computer accessory manufacturers who do not seem to be coping well with the changes technology is making.
Consumer routers for instance are now being infiltrated poorly with regards to security against the thousands of newly-created viruses made to lurk in the World Wide Web. Manufacturers seem to be overly producing huge quantities of devices, only to overlook updating its security measures, therefore causing them to be left behind and leaving them open to virus attacks.
If you think that your home router for instance isn’t vulnerable to attacks, then you might want to think again. Routers catch viruses and yours might just be one of those victims! Attackers usually seek for efforts in changing your DNS server onto your router. Once the change is complete, your router could be placed at a malicious DNS server without you noticing it.
Most people do not even know that they are already on a phishing site. Malicious DNS servers however do not necessarily respond to all the queries you type in onto your browser. Sometimes the websites they lead you on may just simply time out and then redirect your queries onto your ISP’s default DNS server. If you feel that your DNS requests have gone slower than expected, it could be a credible sign that your device may have already been infected.
Can Routers Catch Viruses? How Attackers Can Steal Our Data
Attackers may also simply use advertisements, search results or even attempt to install so-called software or drives through downloads. If you see pornographic ads on a seemingly credible and legitimate website, then something must be wrong; it could mean that either your computer or router has already been infected with a virus.
In addition, dozens and dozens of attacks take advantage of cross-site request forgery (also known as CSRF) attacks. They take advantage by embedding malicious JavaScript on a web page for instance, which shall continue to attempt to load the router’s web-based administration page, changing its settings. Now while the JavaScript runs on a device that’s connected into your local network, the code can then access the web interface which is available only inside your so-called network.
Some routers (actually most of them) do have some remote administration system interface that is activated along with the router’s default username and password. All sorts of bots could somehow scan for such routers on the internet and gain access—no matter where you and your routers are, physically speaking. Furthermore, attackers take advantage of these instances; most especially when your router creates further problems.
And so, the question still remains:
If routers catch viruses, then how can we strengthen our routers against attacks?
If you think that routers can catch viruses, know that there is always a solution to every problem, and there are so much ways wherein you can guard your computer, phone and router against viruses, hackers and malicious attacks.
Install and Regularly Update Your Firmware
One way of barring attacks against your routers is to actually install firmware updates and make sure they stay up-to-date. Unfortunately, most (usually the old-fashioned ones) routers do not offer automatic firmware updates, causing you to have to update it manually. This gives you a bit of insurance that you are constantly being protected from any patched flaws.
Turn Off Your Remote Access
In this context, all you have to do is to disable the remote access to the router’s web-based administration pages. Disabling the remote access gives attackers less opportunities to get into your network system.
Regularly Change Your Router Password
As mentioned earlier, hackers could now get their way into entering various networks and router settings, giving them the capability to alter the defaults saved on your router. However, changing your password regularly could help keep you from such hacking attacks. Changing the passwords of the router’s web-based administration interface also keeps you away from hackers who are trying to get information on the defaults of your router.
Shut down your UPnP
UPnP has always been known to be vulnerable particularly with viruses lurking around the internet. And even if you think that UPnP isn’t as vulnerable, little would we all know that small pieces of malware could still be roaming both inside and around your local network. Once the malware gets to take advantage of the UPnP, it could change your DNS server—because that’s simply how it works—UPnP trusts all of the requests coming from your local internet network.
So just to be clear, routers catch viruses. And if we are not vigilant enough, attackers could just take advantage of so many things—including your laptop, mobile phones and routers.
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