Updated on April 11 with the publication of a list of affected routers.
The NSA is warning US internet users to reboot their routers now, as attackers increasingly target home networks to steal personal and sensitive data. “Don’t be a victim!” spy agency said. “Malicious cyber attackers can exploit your home network to gain access to personal, private, and confidential information.”
The National Security Agency has added its voice to the FBI’s warning that Russia’s GRU intelligence agency exploits “vulnerable routers worldwide to intercept and steal sensitive military, government, and critical infrastructure information.”
Citizens are warned that hacker APT28 (also known as Fancy Bear) working for the Russian military “has been collecting credentials and exploiting vulnerable routers around the world, including compromising TP-Link routers using CVE-2023-50224.”
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The TL;DR of this warning is to stop using end-of-life Internet routers and ensure that those that are still supported are updated regularly. Let’s face it – a lot of home Internet users never bother. They also don’t regularly change router passwords or — more advanced — add a guest network at home.
The NSA reminds citizens that “best practices for securing your home network” mean “changing default usernames and passwords, disabling remote management interfaces from the Internet, updating to the latest firmware versions, and upgrading devices that are no longer supported.” In other words, don’t overlook that router working quietly in the corner of your living room or home office. That’s a big security risk.
The NSA also warns users that “at a minimum, you should schedule weekly reboots for your routers, smartphones, and computers. Regular reboots help remove implants and ensure security.” That just means turn it off and on again.
When was the last time you actually rebooted your home router? No doubt you reboot it when the Internet fails as part of an impromptu recovery, but I’m pretty sure you don’t schedule (automatically or manually) any form of weekly reboot.
Although you may not have been targeted by the Russian military, you will becoming a target of cyber attacks and hacks has always been a threat to home, smartphone and computer internet users and is now on the rise thanks to AI.
That requires good housekeeping habits. Change passwords, update whenever (and as soon as) updates are released, and – yes – reboot weekly. My advice is to get into the habit of rebooting devices, including routers, every Sunday.
Meanwhile PCMag has released a list of brands affected by the broader router clampdown. “The FCC’s router ban is bad news for these brands,” the website reported.
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This list is based on data obtained from internet speed tests. “The FCC’s ban on foreign-made Wi-Fi routers has many of us questioning whether we can stick with the router brands we like the most. A new report using Speedtest.net data identifies which brands will be most affected, based on their popularity in the US”
WiFi Now warns that “to our knowledge, consumer Wi-Fi routers available in the United States are manufactured almost exclusively in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. They include popular home networking products from major Wi-Fi router brands such as NETGEAR, TP-Link, Google Nest, eero, Ubiquiti, and many others.”
The list compiled by Ookla highlights the problem. Compiled from Speedtest users, this list of “can be considered proxies” for the Wi-Fi router market share.
Wi-Fi Router Market Share (2025-2026)
ookla
“As far as we know,” WiFi Now said, “there are no domestic manufacturers in the United States any consumer-grade Wi-Fi router at this time.”
Regardless of your router brand, with the FBI router warning supported by cyber agencies worldwide, check now to make sure the router still receives firmware support by checking the model number. Then reboot it now.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com