Router-related piece of info/reminder...
Feb 21, 2010 7:39:25 GMT
Post by CharlieChomper on Feb 21, 2010 7:39:25 GMT
What I'm about to post isn't something entirely new as far as information is concerned--it's something that has been known about for years within the tech/techie communities and especially the maliciously-minded. However, it's also something most people out there are not aware of unfortunately.
For anyone out there with a router, if you haven't already done so, make sure to change the password on it from the default to something you'll remember (but without making it too obvious, of course) as well as check your settings carefully!--you'd be amazed at how often people who purchase them never bother with changing any of the default passwords!
The reason I mention that part is because there has existed a list (which continues to be updated into the present) of all the default passwords used by manufacturers of routers that has been circulating--and as most people never think or bother with (or sometimes even know) to change the default passwords, it can provide access to someone to get into it.
I recently was reminded of this list again as I had agreed to help someone with their router and a problem they were having. In this situation, it strangely worked to our advantage in one way that they didn't even know they should change the password (as they didn't even know what it was) as I needed to get access to it, but as they didn't know the password (and, again, had not changed it), I was able to retrieve it from that list and get in that way to have a look (obviously, this was all done with permission) and not only see what was going on, but address anything that needed to be.
However, I thought to mention to make sure to change those passwords!
For anyone out there with a router, if you haven't already done so, make sure to change the password on it from the default to something you'll remember (but without making it too obvious, of course) as well as check your settings carefully!--you'd be amazed at how often people who purchase them never bother with changing any of the default passwords!
The reason I mention that part is because there has existed a list (which continues to be updated into the present) of all the default passwords used by manufacturers of routers that has been circulating--and as most people never think or bother with (or sometimes even know) to change the default passwords, it can provide access to someone to get into it.
I recently was reminded of this list again as I had agreed to help someone with their router and a problem they were having. In this situation, it strangely worked to our advantage in one way that they didn't even know they should change the password (as they didn't even know what it was) as I needed to get access to it, but as they didn't know the password (and, again, had not changed it), I was able to retrieve it from that list and get in that way to have a look (obviously, this was all done with permission) and not only see what was going on, but address anything that needed to be.
However, I thought to mention to make sure to change those passwords!
