Olivia Cavallaro Tech 09.19.2022 22:Sep PM EDT

5 Signs That Your Router Has Been Hacked

Here are some tips on determining if a router has been compromised by a hacker.

When it comes to internet security, one of the first things that come to mind is password and data protection. But security and protection go beyond ensuring that data is safe. Home or office Wi-Fi routers can also be compromised by hackers.

So how does one determine if a router has been hacked? There are several indications that show if a router has been compromised by a hacker. Once a router has been hacked, data can easily be stolen, and malware can be installed to spy on communications, transactions, and more. Here are a few signs that indicate a router has been hacked.

5 Signs That Indicate a Router Has Been Hacked

1. The router fails to log in properly.

One of the most common signs of a hacked router is difficulty logging in. If a password is suddenly changed without any users changing it, it's most likely that a hacker had used a password attack to break into the router's settings, Norton reported. One good way to prevent router passwords from being compromised is to use complex passwords that do not contain common words, birthdays, and the like.

2. The internet speed significantly slows down.

While internet speeds often slow down due to weather or service conditions, sometimes the reason why your internet could be slow is because the router has been compromised, the Norton report added. To address this, Norton recommends you create a unique Service Set Identifier (SSID) or Wi-Fi network name to prevent the network from being identified and then hacked into.

3. Browsers redirect to a completely different website.

If users are being redirected to websites that they had no intention of visiting, this may be an indication that a hacker has compromised the router. Hackers who gain control of the admin account of a router can change domain and IP address settings to direct traffic to their preferred sites, which often host malware and other viruses designed to steal data or compromise computer systems. The best way to deal with this is to regularly change router passwords and check for any security loopholes that hackers may take advantage of, Norton recommended.

4. Users find unknown or unfamiliar devices on the router network.

Another way to determine if a router has been hacked is when the router owner or user finds unknown devices on the router's network. Some antivirus programs have the ability to alert users if an unknown device connects to a router's network. According to Avast, users should be able to log into their router and check the list of IP addresses on a network if they match the IP addresses of the devices connected to the said network. Similarly, finding unfamiliar software or malware on the devices connected to the router is an indication that the router has been compromised.

5. DNS settings changed.

A DNS or Domain Name System is described by CloudFlare as "the phonebook of the Internet," or a process in which domain names are translated into IP addresses that computers understand. If a hacker has compromised the router, he has the ability to change its DNS settings to connect to a malicious server or be redirected to malware-infected websites.