Last weekend, I paid a much overdue visit to my parents house. Like most visits, they always seem to have some new electronic device they need me to hook up and show them how to use. Connecting the device to their Wi-Fi router, I started thinking about when the last time the firmware had been updated. My next thought, I need to update my own router.
Why Should You Update Your Router’s Firmware
It takes more than a strong password to keep your Wi-Fi connection secure. Most home routers suffer from security vulnerabilities that are addressed through firmware updates. The Consumer Reports article “Why You Need to Update Your Router Firmware” notes that Netgear released almost 200 updates in 2017 for their router lines.
Hackers are always trying to find a new backdoor into your network. This means that the security issues are constantly evolving, requiring constant patching to plug these “leaks”. If your using a router that is 3 or 4 years old, many of these security issues affecting you may not have even existed when your model came out.
Now that your firmware is updated, It would also be a good time to change your password. I live in a pretty rural area and I try to change it every 6 months. It’s not a bad ideal to set an alert in your phone’s calendar to remind you every so often to update both your firmware and password.
Why Router’s Don’t Get Updated
Most of the reasons router’s don’t get needed firmware updates falls squarely on the shoulders of the manufacturers. The graphs shown above from Catalin Cimpanu’s article on bleepingcomputers.com show some of the main reasons these updates are not done.
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- Don’t know why I need to
- Not sure how to do it
- Could not find clear instructions
- Software is confusing
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These responses, from people surveyed, all point toward inadequate design from product manufacturers. Inclusion of automatic firmware updating or providing step by step updating instructions with the setup manual could eliminate most of the reasons listed above.
You know why you should update, and you know why you haven’t done it yet. Your probably wondering where should I look to see how I can update. The best area to start is the website for your router’s manufacturer. Most sites will have a support section where you can enter your device’s model number for further support options.
Another option would be to check online forums, you’d be surprised how many people have experienced the same issues. Sharing solutions is a great way to help your fellow humans. If your issue doesn’t have any posted solutions, make sure you post one if you find it. Thank you for taking the time to join me again.