UPGRADE YOUR ROUTER'S FIRMWARE FOR SECURITY AND PERFORMANCE

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​Recently we’ve explored online security and Wi-Fi troubleshooting. Now let’s take a look at another important issue: Keeping your router up to date for both security and efficiency.

Netgear, one of the most popular router manufacturers, experienced a recent hacking vulnerability in some of their routers. This vulnerability allows hackers to take over your computer. They’ve released a fix, but it’s still up to you, the user, to visit their webpage and apply the update.

(Click here to read an advisory from Netgear.) 
 
The problem is not limited to just one router brand. The best practice is to stay up-to-date with your router’s firmware. This means checking at least quarterly to see if there have been new updates.
 
Why would you want to update your router’s firmware? The first reason is security. One of the main reasons router companies update their firmware is because they’ve identified vulnerabilities in their previous version. Just as your computer operating system is updated for security fixes, router firmware works the same way. The newest system fixes security issues and bugs. So it’s important to take it seriously and keep up with your router’s firmware update.
 
Another reason to update your router’s firmware is for performance. Newer systems often include performance upgrades, making your router work even better than before. Maybe the update adds more channels or improves speed. Companies are always tweaking and improving. Don’t get left on the dirt road while everyone else is zooming along on the superhighway!
 
So we all agree it’s important to keep your router’s firmware current.  Unfortunately, most routers require you to visit their site and perform the updates manually. Below is a decent article on how to check and apply a firmware upgrade via your router’s administrative webpage.
 
Click here to learn how to update your wireless router’s firmware.
 
If you’ve been thinking about getting a new router, updates can be much easier. New router technology, such as the Eero, checks for and applies these updates automatically, freeing you from the chore of regular updates.
  
If updating your router’s firmware looks intimidating, or if you don’t have the time or simply don’t enjoy wrangling with tech issues, then let Asheville Digital Lifestyle do it for you.

Click the button below to make an appointment.
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