Privacy Advisory #413 – NIST Issues Recommendation for Consumer Routers | Robinson+Cole Data Privacy + Security Insider

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released helpful recommendations that consumers can consider when securing home routers.

The publication, released on September 10, 2024, highlights the importance of securing your home router, especially with the expansion of the smart home, Internet of Things devices and remote work.

According to the publication, “ensuring router security is crucial to protect not only individual data, but also the integrity and availability of entire networks.”

While the publication is somewhat technical and is primarily aimed at consumer router manufacturers, it provides useful information for consumers that highlights the importance of home router security. The publication outlines the risks associated with home routers if they are not secured. “A compromised router opens the door to a multitude of vulnerabilities and potentially exploitable impacts, ranging from unauthorized access and dissemination of sensitive information to the possibility of malicious attacks on connected devices. Ensuring router security is essential to preserving not only the privacy and security of individuals, but also the integrity and availability of entire networks.”

NIST’s recommendations for consumer router manufacturers take another step toward securing home routers. Consumers may want to consider setting unique, strong passphrases for their home routers, and not using the manufacturer’s default password.

(See source.)