Updating a routers firmware

pineapple

It's a long time since I logged into my Netgear site and I see a firmware update is available. Are there advantages to doing this? I'm not having any problems at the moment and I'm thinking 'If it ain't broke.......'
Cheers

Wickwar

Go with what your think about,'If it ain't broke.......'

tronator

pineapple wrote: »

It's a long time since I logged into my Netgear site and I see a firmware update is available. Are there advantages to doing this? I'm not having any problems at the moment and I'm thinking 'If it ain't broke.......'
Cheers

It might fix a security vulnerability, upnp springs to mind. Check their website to see what the update does.

Wickwar wrote: »

Go with what your think about,'If it ain't broke.......'

Is this, how you keep your Windows PC secure too?

spannerzone

Of course it's wise to keep things up to date but with firmware updates, unlike (most) Windows updates, if the firmware update fails it usually results in a dead bricked device unlike Windows which can (usually) roll back.

DevCoder

Most routers, if the firmware flash fails, you can get it into tftp mode which enables you to flash the firmware again (albeit you need to read up on how to do it).

Failing all that you can try JTagging, although that's a last resort.

somersethillbilly

Which Netgear model No?

Older Netgears require that you are using XP, ethernet and connect to the router's web interface using IE.

Netgear recovery utility is available for some routers if the update of the firmware goes bad and the router is "bricked"

pineapple

somersethillbilly wrote: »

Which Netgear model No?

Older Netgears require that you are using XP, ethernet and connect to the router's web interface using IE.

Netgear recovery utility is available for some routers if the update of the firmware goes bad and the router is "bricked"

It's the DGN 1000
I'm on XP and have no trouble logging on using Firefox.

DevCoder

I'd update it personally, netgear tends to roll out a lot of fixes in their firmware updates.

Do you mean the DGND1000? If so the firmware update for that fixes some basic issues.

pineapple

krisdorey wrote: »

I'd update it personally, netgear tends to roll out a lot of fixes in their firmware updates.

Do you mean the DGND1000? If so the firmware update for that fixes some basic issues.

No - definitely DGN1000
Sorry - Full name N150 wireless router + modem DGN100
Anyhow I just did it and nothing exploded! :T

DevCoder

Apologies, my brain is playing up today. The (latest) firmware update for the DGN1000 includes some security and basic wifi stability fixes.

Wickwar

tronator wrote: »

It might fix a security vulnerability, upnp springs to mind. Check their website to see what the update does.



Is this, how you keep your Windows PC secure too?

Not used windows in at least 10 years.