How your home network can be hacked and how to prevent it

August 18, 2020 by

Christine McKenzie

Thanks to technology, jobs that used to require us to physically commute to work can now be done at home in a pair of comfy pajamas. A 2018 report by Global Workplace Analytics showed that over 5 million Americans work remotely. This trend doesn’t look like it’ll slow down any time soon, and there are plenty of good reasons for that: remote work has been linked to a panoply of benefits for workers, as well as fewer overhead costs for employers. 

However, working remotely creates new problems and challenges, especially in terms of network security. Home networks aren’t protected by the same rigorous cybersecurity protocols that corporate networks have access to. Instead, you’re left to fend for yourself! 

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On that note, let’s talk about how to detect hackers on your network and what to do if your network is hacked. 

Can your home network be hacked?

The short answer? Yes, it’s absolutely possible for your home network to get hacked. There are a couple of ways hackers can gain access to your network. 

One common method is to guess the password. It sounds simple, but routers often come with a preset default password that the manufacturer uses for all devices. A hacker could easily look up the default password associated with a given type of router and use it to access countless devices. 

Hackers can also exploit security flaws in the router’s firmware. Since firmware is updated so infrequently, hackers have ample time to discover and exploit security flaws before they’re patched. Infrequent firmware updates leave 83% of home Wi-Fi routers vulnerable to attack, according to a study by The American Consumer Institute (ACI). 

Your home network is naturally vulnerable, which means the responsibility falls on you, the end user, to keep an eye out for signs of suspicious activity and figure out what to do if your network is hacked.

How do you know if your home network has been hacked? 

The signs of a hacked home network can be subtle, but there are certain clues you should keep an eye out for. Here’s how to detect hackers on your network:

Your network has an unusual spike in activity 

When a hacker gets into your home network, they’re free to piggyback off your bandwidth. This can lead to your internet connection becoming unusually slow. 

Your firewalls have been mysteriously uninstalled

Your firewall is your network’s first line of defense against would-be intruders. Certain types of malware can uninstall or disable your firewall, which make it easier for intruders to access your network in the future. 

Your computer starts operating on its own

Seeing your cursor move around on its own can be spooky, but that doesn’t mean there’s a ghost in the machine. Instead, it means an intruder has gained remote access to your computer, and that’s a lot scarier than a ghost! 

Once a hacker has access to your computer, they also have access to all of your data, including sensitive documents, emails and images. They can also install new software on your computer and uninstall security measures like your antivirus and firewall. 

Your web browser’s default home page changes

If your default browser changes suddenly or redirects you to an unfamiliar page, then your home network has probably been hacked. Usually, this type of activity is caused by a browser redirect virus. Be especially careful with browser redirects, since attackers may send you to a spoof website where they will try to harvest personal or financial information.

You’re asked to give access to a program

It’s normal for legitimate programs to request access to our network from time to time, but if you notice an unknown program making that request, that’s cause for alarm. 

How to detect hackers on your network

Hackers like to use stealth to operate undetected for as long as possible. Fortunately, there are ways you can check to see if someone is hijacking your network. 

The first thing you can do is check out what devices are connected to your network. You can do this right from your computer. All you have to do is type your router’s IP address into your browser’s URL bar. If you’re unsure of the router’s IP address, that’s OK; it’s usually printed right on the router. 

Once you’re logged in, you can take a look at what devices are associated with your network. Usually, this is located in a section called Device List or Attached Devices. Identifying devices is easy when they’re named, like “Christine’s Laptop,” but keep in mind that some devices will only appear as their IP addresses. This will take a little more detective work to match up your device’s IP addresses with the ones listed. If any of the IP addresses don’t match up, that means they’re being used by an intruder. 

What to do if your network is hacked

If your network has been hacked, don’t panic — there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage and shut out the hackers. Take a look at these steps for how to stop hackers in your home network. 

Reset your router

When the VPNFilter malware gained infamy in 2018, the FBI recommended a router reboot as the best way to get rid of the virus. Every wireless router comes with a reset button that restores the router to its default settings. When you hit the reset button, it will disrupt anyone lurking in your network. 

Keep in mind that resetting your router is not the same as power flushing it. When your router boots up after resetting it, be prepared to reconfigure your network settings. 

Change your wireless network password

Your network should be protected by a strong, unique password. If your network isn’t password-protected, you should add one immediately as an extra layer of protection. If your network was password-protected prior to being hacked, you should reset the password to make it more difficult for intruders to re-establish access to your network. 

Deactivate remote administration 

Remote administration is a setting on your router that permits someone to access your system from a far-away location. While the setting can be useful in some legitimate scenarios, it can also be abused by hackers. There are red flags that a hacker has gained remote access to your computer, such as when your cursor moves on its own or programs seem to install themselves all on their own. Deactivating remote administration will no longer allow hackers to abuse that feature to access your network. 

Run a virus scan on your devices

There are multiple ways to hack a home network, and one of them is via malware. Certain viruses, like a keylogger, record everything you type on your keyboard, including your usernames and passwords. Running a virus scan should detect and remove any malicious software lingering around on your computer. 

Update your router’s firmware

Routers are built with network security in mind, but that doesn’t mean exploits and vulnerabilities are impossible. If a hacker exploited a vulnerability in the router’s firmware to gain access to your network, then a software update could patch up the hole and secure your device. 

Keep in mind that most routers don’t automatically update firmware, so you’ll have to do it manually when a security update becomes available. When it comes down to how to stop hackers, regularly updating your router’s firmware is one of the best things you can do.

How to stop hackers from infiltrating your home network 

Once an attacker gains access to your home network, they can do a lot of damage. That’s why it’s critical to prevent attackers from getting into your system in the first place. Here are some tips for home network protection.

Don’t open any unusual links or attachments

Malware is often transmitted via infected files or links. When you click on the link or attachment, the virus will download and install itself on your device. Once installed, it can make changes to your network, like removing firewalls, enabling remote access and spying on your activities. 

Run a reliable antivirus program

Keep in mind that antivirus software is not foolproof. It can only detect malware that it’s programmed to recognize, so cutting-edge new viruses will most likely slip past its defenses undetected. You’ll also need to keep up with updates as soon as they come out. This ensures your antivirus’s library of known malware is as up-to-date as possible.

Update your software regularly

Updating your software goes beyond just antivirus. Router firmware updates are a critical part of securing the device. If the router manufacturer discovers the device is susceptible to attackers, then a security update will patch up the vulnerability and prevent future attackers from invading your network. 

Keep your home network safe and secure

Thanks to ever-improving communication technology, more and more people are able to work from the comfort of their own homes. Unfortunately, hackers are taking advantage of home networks, which are typically less secure than corporate networks, to steal information and money. If you work from home, it benefits you to know how to detect hackers on your network and what to do if your network is hacked. 

Learn Network Security Fundamentals

Build your skills with seven hands-on courses covering network models and protocols, wireless and mobile security, network security best practices and more.

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Sources

1. Latest Work-At-Home/Telecommuting/Mobile Work/Remote Work Statistics, Global Workplace Analytics
2. 5 Ways Telecommuting Saves Employers Money, NBC News
3. Unpatched vulnerability identified in 79 Netgear router models, ZDNet
4. Home internet connections hacked – here's how to protect yourself, phys.org
5. Most routers full of firmware flaws that leave users at risk, We Live Security
6. How To Reboot Your Router, Comply With The FBI's Request, And Protect Yourself, Forbes