basic home computer security question 5

Basic Home Computer Security Question #5. Why should I change the password

of my router once I install it?

I'm glad somebody else's question because it is often overlooked and

is a huge mistake if you don't do it. You must absolutely change both

the username and password on any network device that you install, such

as;

1) router

2) firewall

The reason is most network devices must come with a default username

or password and there are several tools out there that will just scan

for devices and automatically enter default usernames or passwords. In

fact to make it more dangerous a hacker can get a scanner that will go

out and find a network device from a certain vendor, and they can

manually enter the default username or password to try and gain access

to this device. Once someone has access to the device protecting your

network, they can open it up for access, sniff your network for

usernames or passwords, sniff for personal information that will allow

them to steal your identity credentials.

Just for laughs enter this URL and you will see how easy it is to gain

the default usernames and passwords for all vendors networked devices.