What is a “port-hack”? And how to avoid it

What is router hacking and how to avoid it.
Hacking is not limited to PCs, Wi-Fi routers and cable modems can also be hacked. In addition, router attacks can affect your entire Wi-Fi network, so they can be even more dangerous. Learn how to protect yourself from router hacking, what to do if it happens to you, and how to scan your Wi-Fi network for threats with AVG Antivirus FREE.

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What exactly is router hacking?
Router hacking occurs when a cyber criminals control your router without your consent. As with other types of hacking, Wi-Fi hacking depends on the cyber criminal bypassing your security measures, usually your router’s administrator password or an unpatched vulnerability. Hackers know many tricks to attack a router successfully.

Depending on the router you have and how you’ve protected it, aspiring Wi-Fi hackers can try one of these attack methods to breach your security.
This is the simplest way to hack a router. If you have never changed your router’s administrator password, anyone can easily log in with that information. Router hackers know the standard passwords of the most popular routers and will be happy to test them on your Wi-Fi network.

Firmware is the name given to software that incorporates a device’s hardware, such as your router, and tells you how it should work. Software vulnerabilities are software flaws that hackers can exploit to attack. If your router’s firmware has a vulnerability, a hacker can exploit it to access management settings. Periodically check your router’s firmware updates on the manufacturer’s website and install the ones you find.
It may not be enough to change the password, hackers can try one after another until they find theirs. The simpler it is, the easier it will be for them; So always create strong, unique passwords for all your devices and accounts.

Still wondering if it is possible to hack a router?

It is, if you have the right time and resources. That’s why effective Internet protection makes hacking more difficult and time-consuming.

Why would anyone want to hack my router?

Even if you think there’s nothing worth stealing from your computer, a Wi-Fi hacker doesn’t think the same.

Data theft; It’s just one of the many reasons why someone might want to compromise your Wi-Fi connection.

Someone who has access to your router could:

• Spy on you: since your router handles all Internet traffic on your network, a hacker can see what he is doing: what websites and services you are using, when you use them, etc. This applies to any device that has connected to your Wi-Fi network.
• Monitor your HTTP connections: when you connect to a website that does not use HTTPS encryption, the connection is wide open. A hacker infiltrating the router could see everything he does on that site, which includes the personal information he sends or receives. With a package protocol analyzer, a hacker can control all Internet traffic on his network and even collect the data to use it for his own benefit.

Hackers can inject malicious code into unsecured HTTP connections (this is common on dangerous websites) to infect their network devices or force them to mine cryptocurrencies.

Hacking the router can be the first step of a more advanced attack. Afterwards, the hacker can introduce malware into it, such as the package protocol analyzer we just talked about, and continue with his cyberattacks.

A hacker who has infiltrated your router can use it to hack other devices connected to your network. Any device connected to your router could be in danger.

The DNS configuration of your router directs your traffic to the right places. A hacker who has infiltrated the router can redirect your traffic at the DNS level wherever you want by changing the DNS settings; usually to websites they control, where they can scam you through pharming attacks or download malware on your device.

A hacker can use your Internet connection for free, consume your bandwidth and reduce Internet speed. They can even use your Wi-Fi network to access illegal content.

Botnets are large networks of hacked devices controlled by a cyber criminal. Hackers often use botnets to carry out large-scale attacks that overload their targets to put them out of service. These distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks require huge botnets for their execution, but the consequences can be disastrous. Botnets are also used to send spam or search for other vulnerable routers on the Internet.

A hacker infiltrating your router could cause a lot of damage. Call GoInsta Repairs immediately if you suspect being a victim of port hacking. 888.335.7145.