Key takeaways
Cyber Risk: Older routers from the late 2000s and early 2010s are vulnerable to attacks because they no longer receive software updates or security patches, making them easy targets for cybercriminals.
Exploitation Methods: Attackers exploit remote administration flaws to install malware, gain root access, and turn routers into botnets or proxy servers.
Affected Models: Notably vulnerable devices include Linksys E1200, E2500, E4200, WRT320N, and M10, all of which are end-of-life and unsupported.
If you’re still using an older Wi-Fi router in your home, the FBI has a warning for you: You’re putting yourself at risk for a cyber attack. That said, you can breathe a sigh of relief if you’ve updated your router any time in the last decade. This specific alert only applies to devices made in the late 2000s and early 2010s. (In other words, end-of-life devices that no longer get support by their manufacturers.)