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A new virus called the “Chuck Norris Virus” attacks routers and DSL modems by using commonly known passwords. We have taken measures to ensure the security of our network, but we would like to inform you on how to protect yourself and others. How does it work? It infects routers by trying common and default passwords. This virus, which takes advantage of an incredibly common vulnerability, is incredibly dangerous. Even the most security-minded of consumers will often forget to change the default administrative password on their routers after setting them up. Because this virus can change DNS settings of the router, it can also hijack the browsers of computers on its network, steering them to malware-infested sites or phishing sites. It can also cause your internet connection to slow down and can cause it to become unstable. How do I protect myself? It’s easy to protect yourself from getting infected, just follow these steps: Step 1: Restart your router. The virus is stored in your router’s memory and a restart of the device will clear the memory and get rid of the virus. You can restart the router by unplugging power to the device, wait a couple of seconds then plug it back in. You must continue to the next step in order to prevent your router from getting reinfected. Step 2: Change your router’s password. Since the virus attacks routers with weak passwords you will need to give your router a better password to protect it. Look up how to change your device’s password and give it a new one that’s not simple to guess, something that combines letters and numbers is recommended. Make sure you remember the password; sometimes it’s a good idea to write it on a piece of paper and tape it to the router. Please remember to change your router’s administrative password, not just the password to connect wirelessly, if it is a WiFi Router. For more information on the strength of your password please browse to the following website: https://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/passwords/checker.aspx Here are some links to some of the most common router manufacturer support sites: Linksys: http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/support Dlink: http://www.dlink.com/support/ Netgear: http://kb.netgear.com/app/home ASUS: http://support.asus.com/ Trendnet: http://www.trendnet.com/support/
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