STFU ROUTER!!!!!

Why Your Router Is Spying on You

     Your home Wi-Fi router serves as the traffic director for all your internet-based activities—websites you visit, devices you use, services you access. In essence, your router “knows” everything. While this is essential for functionality, it also opens a door for surveillance, data gathering, and potential misuse. Dong Knows Tech

Known Vulnerabilities in Modern Routers

     Consumer routers—notoriously—are prone to having severe security flaws. A 2017 firmware scan revealed that routers from ASUS, Belkin, Buffalo, Cisco, D‑Link, TP‑Link, and more carried multiple “high” severity vulnerabilities, and many had “critical” ones. Router Security Additionally, the VPNFilter malware, tied to Russian cyber actors, infected around 500,000 routers globally, capable of stealing data or bricking devices on command. Wikipedia+1

The Smart-Home Extension of Risk

Routers are the gateway to your smart devices: cameras, thermostats, plugs, speakers. Hackers can exploit weak points here and pivot from one device to another. Wall Street Journal Tom's Guide

Motion Tracking: When Your Router Becomes a Surveillance Tool

Some ISPs are embedding motion detection into routers. Comcast’s Xfinity “Wi‑Fi Motion” uses Wi‑Fi disruptions to sense movement in your home, raising alarm bells about data usage—advertising, law enforcement access, and privacy risks loom large. Tom's Hardware

5. Governmental and Manufacturer Warnings

US authorities are considering banning Chinese‑made TP‑Link routers due to unresolved security flaws. Wikipedia+6Wall Street Journal+6The Verge+6 D‑Link and Netgear have had back doors and firmware exploits in various models—some patched, many deeply concerning. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2

Actionable Steps to Secure Your Router and Home

1. Change Default CredentialsReplace .....any admin or Wi‑Fi default passwords with long, unique ones—avoid “admin” or “password.”

2. Use Strong EncryptionEnable WPA2 or WPA3 for your Wi‑Fi network, ditch WEP or unsecured setups immediately. Wall Street JournalTechRadar+10Tom's Guide+10Wall Street Journal+10Wikipedia

3. Keep Firmware Up to Date
Regularly check for manufacturer updates to patch known vulnerabilities like VPNFilter or back doors. Wikipedia+1

4. Segment Your NetworkSet up a guest network or VLANs to isolate smart devices from personal computers and sensitive data. Linux Security

5. Disable Unnecessary FeaturesTurn off remote management and obscure motion-sensing unless needed; these can be exploited. Tom's GuideTom's Hardware