2024 Router Security: Only 28% Change WiFi Passwords, Down From 35% in 2022

Broadband Genie conducted their third router survey to find out if people are now aware of how they are compromising their security by not changing their router’s default settings. In the previously done surveys in 2018 and 2022, many of the people were not aware of their network security. 3045 respondents were surveyed and it was found that 52% of the users have now adjusted their router’s factory settings. The survey done in 2018 found out that 18% of the users have changed their router administrator password but it has decreased to 14% in 2024. When you leave your password at default, more people can easily access it and snoop around your data. It was also found that 72% of respondents have never changed their Wifi password. Just 28% of the users have changed their Wifi password in 2024, while 35% did so in 2022.

9 in 10 respondents (89%) also reported never changing their router firmware. This is a decrease from 2018 and 2022. If users do not update their router firmware, it can become vulnerable to nefarious actors. The challenge many people face is that the instructions to update the router firmware are mostly unclear and complicated. But once you update it, it can decrease the risks associated with leaving the router unupdated.

Even though changing the name of the network may seem a useless move, it can still serve as a security precaution. But it seems like 89% of people haven't changed their network’s name. Hackers can easily identify the router if it doesn't have a unique name. The survey also found that 75% aren't aware or haven't checked if other people are using their network. It is important to know so users can see if there is someone who is using their network without their consent.

75% of the respondents also aren't sure why they should adjust their router's settings. 18% don't know how to change the settings which is a decrease from 20% in 2022. This means that 72% respondents know how they can change their router settings to increase their security level. If you want to prevent yourself from cyber attacks, make sure to change your Wifi passwords and network names. Update your router and keep check of who's using your network.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World