Is your home Wi-Fi really safe? Think again
If it has a password, it must be safe. Right? Unfortunately, that confidence is often misplaced. As remote work becomes more common and smart devices flood our homes, the reliability and security of our home networks matter more than ever.
Every smart speaker, connected light bulb and video call adds to the load. Yet, most of us rarely check if our network is properly protected.
Hackers can target unsecured devices. Internet service providers are quietly watching your online habits. Many of your devices may be leaking unencrypted data without you even realizing it. Even websites that use HTTPS don't fully protect your privacy. Your ISP can still see which domains you visit. It's time to question just how safe your home setup really is.
Most people believe that a Wi-Fi password is enough to protect their home network. But that's far from the full story. In reality, many home routers are vulnerable right out of the box.
For example:
A recent real-world case uncovered by GreyNoise researchers proves how serious these weaknesses can be. Security researchers uncovered a botnet called "AyySSHush" that compromised more than 9,000 ASUS routers and also targeted models from Cisco, D-Link and Linksys. The attack exploited:
The campaign was sophisticated enough that experts suspect a nation-state was behind it.
It's not just routers that are at risk. Smart home devices like cameras, doorbells and plugs are often forgotten once installed:
Beyond that, your internet provider can track your activity, even on encrypted HTTPS sites. ISPs know which domains you visit and often use that data to build advertising profiles or sell it to third parties.
And it doesn't take advanced tools to eavesdrop. Cheap Wi-Fi sniffers can intercept unencrypted traffic from nearby, while more sophisticated attacks can reroute your traffic entirely without you realizing it.
To reduce your exposure, take these steps:
These simple changes can go a long way toward turning the illusion of Wi-Fi security into the real thing.
Antivirus software is useful for blocking known threats and keeping malware off your devices. Firewalls help manage incoming and outgoing connections. However, neither of these tools protects your connection to the internet itself.
A type of attack known as DNS hijacking can reroute your traffic to fake websites even if your device has antivirus protection. On public Wi-Fi, your data can be intercepted if it is not encrypted. Your internet provider can still see everything you do online unless your traffic is hidden. These tools protect your device, but they do not protect your connection. That leaves a big gap in your defenses. Security should start from the moment your data leaves your device.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) solves that connection problem. It creates a private, encrypted tunnel between your device and the websites or apps you use. Everything that travels through that tunnel is hidden from outsiders - even your internet provider.
With a VPN:
That said, VPNs aren't magic. They won't stop phishing scams or block all malware. You still need a strong antivirus and smart digital habits.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com/LockUpYourTech.
But when it comes to keeping your internet activity private and your connection secure, a VPN fills the gap that antivirus and firewalls leave wide open.
Not every VPN offers the same level of security or privacy. Free VPNs might log your activity or sell your data. For true privacy, look for a VPN that does not keep logs, uses strong encryption, and offers high-speed servers. The VPN should support multiple devices under one account, and ideally, the company should be based in a country with strong privacy laws.
For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com/VPN.
Your home Wi-Fi may seem secure, but appearances can be deceiving. Weak router settings, tracking by ISPs and smart devices with poor security all put your personal information at risk. Antivirus software and firewalls cannot fix all of these problems. A VPN offers a powerful layer of protection by encrypting your traffic, hiding your activity, and making your connection truly private. But remember, true digital security comes from layers, VPNs, antivirus, strong passwords, updated firmware and secure DNS, all play a role.
Should manufacturers be held accountable for keeping routers secure against cyber threats? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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If you have a pesky back bedroom that struggles to stay connected, then move mesh routers up to the top of your list. A mesh Wi-Fi network uses multiple access points to provide better coverage throughout large homes. Similar to Wi-Fi extenders, a mesh Wi-Fi system extends coverage throughout the house but with a smaller zone of coverage. Start with one that wires to your modem like a traditional router, then add satellite units around the house that act like repeaters for the signal. If you have a pesky back bedroom that struggles to stay connected, then move mesh routers up to the top of your list. MU-MIMO: Short for "multiuser, multiple-input, multiple-output" (and pronounced "multiuser-meem-oh"), MU-MIMO lets your router divide its signal between multiple streams. That, in turn, lets the router send data to multiple devices at once. MU-MIMO is optimal for households or spaces with a lot of devices and heavy internet use, as it optimizes your network. If the receiving device supports it, MU-MIMO also lets the router use multiple streams at once to send data to the device, which makes for faster transfers. Wi-Fi 6 routers can support up to eight streams (8x8), while Wi-Fi 7 routers can support up to 16. Short for "multiuser, multiple-input, multiple-output" (and pronounced "multiuser-meem-oh"), MU-MIMO lets your router divide its signal between multiple streams. That, in turn, lets the router send data to multiple devices at once. MU-MIMO is optimal for households or spaces with a lot of devices and heavy internet use, as it optimizes your network. If the receiving device supports it, MU-MIMO also lets the router use multiple streams at once to send data to the device, which makes for faster transfers. Wi-Fi 6 routers can support up to eight streams (8x8), while Wi-Fi 7 routers can support up to 16. Band steering: Different brands have different names for the feature, but a growing number of routers will automatically move devices between frequency bands as their positions change within the range of the router. So, if you're using Wi-Fi to make a video call on your phone, and you're sitting in the living room near the router, it might automatically assign you to the 5GHz band, which is the speediest at close range. If you move into another part of the house during the call, the router might automatically "steer" your connection onto the 2.4GHz band, which offers a steadier connection at a distance. Different brands have different names for the feature, but a growing number of routers will automatically move devices between frequency bands as their positions change within the range of the router. So, if you're using Wi-Fi to make a video call on your phone, and you're sitting in the living room near the router, it might automatically assign you to the 5GHz band, which is the speediest at close range. If you move into another part of the house during the call, the router might automatically "steer" your connection onto the 2.4GHz band, which offers a steadier connection at a distance. Beamforming: A basic router will broadcast its signal more or less equally in all directions, but with beamforming, the router can focus its signal in the specific directions of the devices that are trying to connect to it. That can help it reduce interference and maintain a better range. A basic router will broadcast its signal more or less equally in all directions, but with beamforming, the router can focus its signal in the specific directions of the devices that are trying to connect to it. That can help it reduce interference and maintain a better range. Quality of service: Often abbreviated to QoS, quality of service is a feature that lets the router prioritize certain types of traffic above others. It's a common feature for gaming routers. Beyond basics like those, router manufacturers are turning more and more to extras like simplified, app-based setup, integrations with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, VPN support, better parental controls, and optional cybersecurity monitoring. All are worth considering if you think you'd put them to use in your home.
