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Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

nytimes.com

1–10 of 69 posts

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#3
The article concludes that you should spend $200 on Eero or Google WiFi. Is this an advertisement?

Also note that $200 in “value” is mostly covering the massive marketing budget of Eero and Google. You do not need to pay $200 for a secure WiFi solution.

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#4

> Replace your router every few years How about instead of this, use open source software on your router? It will keep being updated, and with the manufacturer's proprietary software on the device you can't really trust it anyway.

Your odds might be better, but there's no guarantee that the software will keep being updated. DD-WRT for many models is simply defunct, for example.

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#5

The article concludes that you should spend $200 on Eero or Google WiFi. Is this an advertisement? Also note that $200 in “value” is mostly covering the massive marketing budget of Eero and Google. You do not need to pay $200 for a secure WiFi solution.

Possibly. The NYT bought The Wirecutter, which did (pretty good) reviews of "best in class" products and then made money from the Amazon affiliate commissions.

https://www.recode.net/2016/10/24/13381002/new-york-times-wi...

I'd still say the point stands that 99% of the routers out there have awful security and it's just a matter of time (often months) because your router is overtaken by a botnet, especially if you don't update to the latest firmware (whenever/if that may arrive).

Open source software helps, but if the firmware for your particular router is updated less often than every 12 months, I think you'll also become just as exposed.

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#6
post #4

> Replace your router every few years How about instead of this, use open source software on your router? It will keep being updated, and with the manufacturer's proprietary software on the device you can't really trust it anyway.

Your odds might be better, but there's no guarantee that the software will keep being updated. DD-WRT for many models is simply defunct, for example.

That is the reason I run a pfsense router/firewall. You never worry they are going to stop supporting your device cause your device is x86 with FreeBSD base.

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#7
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your odds might be better, but there's no guarantee that the software will keep being updated. DD-WRT for many models is simply defunct, for example.

That is the reason I run a pfsense router/firewall. You never worry they are going to stop supporting your device cause your device is x86 with FreeBSD base.

And how much money are you bleeding running that machine 24/7?

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#8
post #5

The article concludes that you should spend $200 on Eero or Google WiFi. Is this an advertisement? Also note that $200 in “value” is mostly covering the massive marketing budget of Eero and Google. You do not need to pay $200 for a secure WiFi solution.

Possibly. The NYT bought The Wirecutter, which did (pretty good) reviews of "best in class" products and then made money from the Amazon affiliate commissions. https://www.recode.net/2016/10/24/13381002/new-york-times-wi... I'd still say the point stands that 99% of the routers out there have awful security and it's just a matter of time (often months) because your router is overtaken by a botnet, especially if you d…

Why aren't we seeing more MITM attacks if this is the case? I'd imagine it's trivial to MITM a PDF download and riddle it with malware. Why would the botnet not fully exploit the router?

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#9

The article concludes that you should spend $200 on Eero or Google WiFi. Is this an advertisement? Also note that $200 in “value” is mostly covering the massive marketing budget of Eero and Google. You do not need to pay $200 for a secure WiFi solution.

Honest question: What I'm paying for isn't secure WiFi per se, but a working, out-of-the-box solution, right?

My time is valuable and I've been known to make mistakes. So rather set up and maintain my own router, I bought a Google Wifi unit, and now I'm reasonably certain that my wifi is not the weakest link in my home electronics security profile.

Isn't that a real value proposition for anyone who can afford one and unable to continuously update their DIY router?

Re: Fixing Weak Wi-Fi Router Security

#10

The article concludes that you should spend $200 on Eero or Google WiFi. Is this an advertisement? Also note that $200 in “value” is mostly covering the massive marketing budget of Eero and Google. You do not need to pay $200 for a secure WiFi solution.

It's an advertisement for Eero and (a competitor) Google Wifi? One that calls out their comparatively high price? One that does not disclose itself as an advertisement? Seems like that would go against their own advertising policy:

https://www.nytco.com/wp-content/uploads/ADVERTISING-ACCEPTA...

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