Just realized my home router's default password was still active after 2 years

I was setting up a new smart plug yesterday and saw my router's login screen for the first time in ages. The password was still the factory default, printed right on the sticker. I felt a cold chill thinking about how any neighbor or passerby could have hopped on my network. I changed it immediately to a long passphrase. Has anyone else had a similar wake-up call with their home network gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

dianaanderson14d ago

Oh man, my buddy had his whole smart TV start playing weird videos in the middle of the night. Turns out his router password was still "admin" and someone got in. He was so creeped out.

patriciam5114d agoTop Commenter

Yikes, that's actually more likely to be a hacked streaming account than the router. Same creepy result though!

the_viola14d ago

Can you even imagine waking up to that? I'd be pulling every plug out of the wall. It's wild how many people never change those default router settings, but then you get a reminder like your friend did. That kind of privacy invasion in your own home just hits different, doesn't it? Makes you want to go check all your own passwords right now.