The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued helpful recommendations for consumers to consider when securing home routers.

The publication, issued on September 10, 2024, emphasizes how important it is to secure the router in your home, particularly with the expansion of the smart home, Internet of Things devices, and remote work.

According to the publication, “ensuring the security of routers is crucial for safeguarding not only individuals’ data but also the integrity and availability of entire networks.”

Although the publication is somewhat technical and is intended primarily for manufacturers of consumer-grade routers, it provides useful information for consumers that emphasizes the importance of the security of home routers. The publication outlines the risk associated with home routers if not secured. “A compromised router opens the door to a host of potential exploited vulnerabilities and impacts, ranging from unauthorized access and sensitive information dissemination to the possibility of malicious attacks on connected devices. Ensuring the security of routers is crucial for safeguarding not only individual privacy and safety but also the integrity and availability of entire networks.”

The NIST recommendations for manufacturers of consumer routers is one step in advancing security of home routers. Consumers may wish to consider setting strong unique passphrases for their home routers, and not use the manufacturers’ default password.