I think my router has been hacked?

daniellaoxox

A few weeks back I realised my wireless signal changed back to the default setting, the name changed back to netgear and there was no password. As soon as I released it was my connection (I thought it was someone else's) I changed it back to the name I had for it before and put a new password on it. Today it has happened again, my wifi has no password on it and it's gone back to being called netgear. I haven't reset it my self and now I'm concerned that someone else is doing this, how do I make sure it doesn't happen again?

esuhl

I had exactly the same problem with my Netgear router. I find it absolutely scandalous that the default settings enable the wireless access point with no security!

Anyway, I eventually discovered that the problem was due to operating a "video sender" (device that transmits a signal from one TV to another wirelessly). When I turned on the video sender, the Netgear router became overwhelmed with the amount of radio interference and rebooted to factory settings.

Do you have a video sender or any other wireless device operating nearby?

daniellaoxox

esuhl wrote: »

I had exactly the same problem with my Netgear router. I find it absolutely scandalous that the default settings enable the wireless access point with no security!

Anyway, I eventually discovered that the problem was due to operating a "video sender" (device that transmits a signal from one TV to another wirelessly). When I turned on the video sender, the Netgear router became overwhelmed with the amount of radio interference and rebooted to factory settings.

Do you have a video sender or any other wireless device operating nearby?

No, not that I know of anyway

WTFH

Have you had any power failures, surges, etc?
What is the model of the router?
How long have you had it?
What sort of property do you live in?
Where is your router located in your property?

I don't think it has been hacked, because if you were able to create a new password for it, then it will have been locked again, so the hacker will need to have come back and done it again.

daniellaoxox

WTFH wrote: »

Have you had any power failures, surges, etc?
What is the model of the router?
How long have you had it?
What sort of property do you live in?
Where is your router located in your property?

I don't think it has been hacked, because if you were able to create a new password for it, then it will have been locked again, so the hacker will need to have come back and done it again.

Nope no power failures

It's aNetgear N150
I've had it for 3 years or there abouts

Detached house

Living room located at the front of the house

Thanks

scheming_gypsy

On your router console there should / might be a log page where you can see what's happened. If it resets itself back to default, check the logs to see if there was a log in at that time. If the logs are blank up to that point, then it's probably just reset itself.
It's highly unlikely somebody will 'hack' into a router and put it back to the default settings, simply because they won't achieve anything.

macman

esuhl wrote: »

I had exactly the same problem with my Netgear router. I find it absolutely scandalous that the default settings enable the wireless access point with no security!

Anyway, I eventually discovered that the problem was due to operating a "video sender" (device that transmits a signal from one TV to another wirelessly). When I turned on the video sender, the Netgear router became overwhelmed with the amount of radio interference and rebooted to factory settings.

Do you have a video sender or any other wireless device operating nearby?

Until about 7 years ago, most routers came with wireless security turned off by default. And for some years after that, the default was only set to WEP, which the average 10 year old could hack.
If I do an inSSIDer scan of my neighbourhood, I can invariably see at least 2 networks which still have only WEP security-which is no security at all.

Nilrem

gluetube wrote: »

doubt it has been hacked, why would anyone do that? reset itself it seems

That would be my guess as well, it only takes the power to blip for a couple of seconds to cause things like routers to reset and unless you've got something like a microwave with a time display you're unlikely to notice that the power dropped if you were asleep/out at the time.

cookie365

Are you sure N150 is the model number?

That sounds like the wireless standard it supports.

Have you checked the Netgear website for a firmware upgrade?

esuhl

cookie365 wrote: »

Are you sure N150 is the model number?

That sounds like the wireless standard it supports.

I think you're right -- maybe it's the Netgear N150 wireless router DGN1000...?

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/pc-peripheral/3232546/netgear-n150-wireless-modem-router-dgn1000-review/

cookie365 wrote: »

Have you checked the Netgear website for a firmware upgrade?

Good idea!

When I had the problem with my video-sender, I noticed that it appeared as a strangely-named network in InSSIDer (which scans for wireless networks and displays signal strength, channel, etc.). It might be worth a quick look to see if you notice anything "odd":

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/

Also, it's probably not appealing, but can you relocate the router to the opposite side of the house to see if the problem still occurs? It might help determine whether there is something wrong with the router or whether it is due to some kind of interference...

buglawton

Wow a router that goes back to factory settings on the slightest reset! Highly insecure.
Seems impossible, they usually require a paper clip to be inserted and the reset button kept held down for many seconds.
Are you sure that no impatient teenagers inhabit the same house, who could not be bothered to ask for the password once they lost it?