router Archives - Komando.com

Ask Kim: 'Help! My brother-in-law is spying on us'

“Dear Kim,

“My brother-in-law has our family cottage wired with a Ring security system. He is not to be trusted as he has been unfaithful to his wife and she has filed for divorce. My family is very suspicious that we are being watched or listened to all the time.

“The cottage belongs to three families, and we don’t feel comfortable talking inside or outside. I know the Ring system can record — my brother-in-law is a software engineer and this is his hobby … Creepy AF. What should we do?“

— Sonia in Indianapolis, Indiana

Dear Sonia,

Before we get into the tech weeds on this one, let me say I’m sorry you’re in such a tough situation. When someone breaks your trust, it’s natural to assume there are other ways they may be lying or sneaking around.

If the relationship is one where you can all still sit down and chat, I’d start there. Get all the co-owners together to talk about what surveillance devices you’re all comfortable with. A front door camera is one thing. I can tell what you’re worried about are cameras (that record audio, too) across the house and in the areas outside where everyone spends time.

Now, things can get a little tricky here since multiple families share ownership of the cottage — especially if your brother-in-law can’t be part of the conversation. It’s really not overkill to chat with a lawyer about what your rights are around disabling or removing the cameras altogether.

Let’s say you do decide to lock things down

Start with the router. It’s the key to every connected device in the cottage, so if you reset that (and kick your BIL off), you’re one step closer to privacy. For directions on doing this, look up your router’s manual or search for “model name + factory reset.”

If the cameras belong to all of you, factory reset those, too. Add them to a new account you set up yourself. Since this is a shared property, I suggest you disable audio recording permanently so everyone can feel more comfortable.

In the meantime

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3 reasons you shouldn't go another day without antivirus software

If you don’t have antivirus software, you’re putting every internet-connected gadget you own at risk. Something as simple as an unchanged router password can be an entry point for an invader to shut down your phone or even taunt your children through a security camera or smart speaker.

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🛳️ Cruisin’ together

Five little essentials to pack for your voyage on the high seas — or, really, any summer vacay:

Pocket-sized router: Think of a travel router as your own private hub on the ship’s network. Pay for the internet for one device but share it using this. Score: Under $34 right now.

Outlets for everyone: Buyer beware: Cruise staff will confiscate regular surge protectors. Opt for this cruise-approved model with three outlets, two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports — now 29% off ($9.98).

Li’l nightlight: Cruise cabins get dark at night. Light your path to the loo with a motion sensor nightlight that runs on AAA batteries. Right now, it’s 25% off ($17.99).

Hangin’ out: Hang your towels, shirts, toiletry bag, sunnies — whatever ya got — on these super-strong magnetic hooks.

Cruise juice: A dead phone battery on an off-ship excursion? What a disaster. This portable power bank is 40% off ($17.99).

It just works better: If you live in a home larger than 2,000 square feet or have a lot of devices, mesh networks are your Wi-Fi’s secret sauce. Instead of a single router struggling to send a signal to every nook and cranny, you’ve got multiple “nodes” working like a tag team.

Signs you should replace your router

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It’s one of the most important tech items in your house. Is yours vulnerable to hacks? Here’s one way to tell.

⚠️ Still using a Netgear WNR614 N300 router? It’s hit end-of-life status and won’t get any more security patches. It already has six scary vulnerabilities, including storing passwords in plain text. You’ll need a new one. Here’s an affordable option for medium-sized homes and a budget mesh system for larger homes.

Crappy Wi-Fi is the worst

Your walls, furniture, baby monitor and microwave might be making your connection worse. Let’s fix that for you with a few tricks of the well-connected trade.

Choose the path of least resistance. Ceilings, furniture and other physical obstacles can weaken your signal. Instead of putting your router in a cluttered room, go for an open space.
Get it away from metal, brick and concrete; they’re notorious for blocking Wi-Fi signals.
Put your router up high, like on a shelf or mounted near the ceiling if you can.
If your router has antennas, move them around so they’re all pointing in different directions.
Keep your router around three feet away from other devices, especially baby monitors, kitchen appliances, cordless phones and Bluetooth-enabled gadgets.

How to deal with a cyberstalker

Let me tell you, more and more victims of cyberstalking are reaching out to me for advice using my Ask Kim page. Here’s one note I received recently from P.W. in Oklahoma:

“I’ve been cyberstalked for three years. I recently discovered it was my roommate. I moved out and he launched another attack. He’s on my and my fiance’s phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth — everything. He has stolen financial data, pictures, erased accounts, taken over emails and harassed me through VOIP. … He admitted to sitting outside our house all night. I thought he was spying on me. Now I know he was also gaining access to my Wi-Fi. I can’t do this anymore and need expert advice/help terribly.”

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Best routers for 2024 [List]

A good router isn’t just about performance. It’s your first line of defense against network break-ins. If your router isn’t updating anymore, you’re experiencing random Wi-Fi freezes, frequent reboots, or runs hot, it’s time for a new one. Komando IT genius John replaces his every two years.

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Spies want in on your router

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Is yours at risk? Hackers’ new side hustle is charging Chinese and Russian spies and scammers for access to old home routers so they can launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Plus, Google blocks romance writer, worst airlines for luggage, and Microsoft gets hacked.

Bonus episode: The Kim Komando Show, March 30

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Sarah from Portland, Oregon, has been stalked on and off for years. Now, she has a sinking feeling that her estranged brother, who works in IT, is behind it. Plus, use an older router? Be careful, hackers are getting smarter and you’re at risk.

🚨 Don’t be a victim: If your router is more than two years old, be sure it still gets updates; if not, it’s time for a new one. Hackers are taking over thousands of routers every day and turning them into “proxy services” to cover their illegal activity. Need router recs? Let me know when you rate this newsletter! The more people who say yes, the better I know you want this info.

Do this important Wi-Fi check at least twice a year

I’m in the process of settling into a new home. The other day, someone had to log into the Wi-Fi to set up something on the network.

Right after he left, I logged in and kicked the device off my network. I’m a stickler for keeping my network safe and tidy. You should be, too, and it’s easier than you think.

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Save downtime for vacation: If your router has a SIM, you can use a cellular network as a backup. The Netgear Orbi 4G LTE is a solid option. I’d classify it as pricey but worth it, especially if you live (or have a vacation home) in a rural area with unreliable service.

Be my guest: Check if your router offers a guest mode. If it does, turn it on. This means visitors can get online but can’t start messing with your smart lights or using your printer — that’s getting too comfortable. And if you’re the one on a guest network or public Wi-Fi, always use a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN. Use this link to get three free months.

Avoid a Wi-Fi traffic jam: Most routers let you switch channels for a clearer signal. Log into your router’s online interface. (Check the manual or online guide if you’re not sure how.) Look for Wireless Settings and find the Channel option. Channels 1, 6 or 11 are typically less congested. Reboot your router and you’re good to go.

Crappy Wi-Fi fix: Your walls, furniture, baby monitor and microwave might be making your connection worse. Best bet — place your router in a central location as high as possible (say, on a shelf) and switch to a 5GHz band for a less-crowded signal.

… or have a lot of devices, mesh networks are your Wi-Fi’s secret sauce. Instead of a single router struggling to send a signal to every nook and cranny, you’ve got multiple “nodes” working like a tag team.

Plaque attack: Thanks to operating system flaws, 3 million smart toothbrushes turned into hacker tools. This is no joke; they were used as part of a massive DDoS attack, crashing a company’s website. Any internet-connected device is a target. My advice: Give your router a stronger password. And if you can’t update your router, get a new one.

Have any new tech? Take steps now to secure your privacy

Raise your hand if you scooped up some tech for yourself during the holiday sales madness. It’s a great time to score a deal, but I bet you’re also slammed with work and family obligations.

Don’t just set it and forget it with your new gear. (Hackers and scammers are hoping you do, of course.) Take a few minutes to secure it. You’ll be glad you did.

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