It stands somewhere on a cupboard, often dusty and forgotten. You only remember it when the Internet starts to malfunction. The router is the gateway to your home network – and like any gate, it may become vulnerable over time. Find out why it is sometimes worth replacing this inconspicuous device.
Your equipment is several years old and you have no idea whether it somehow updates itself? So it probably has security measures that hackers can break in a few minutes. And yet because of it WiFi everything is flowing today – from photos with holidays for bank login details.
Why is it worth replacing your old router?
Not just computers anymore and phones – more and more today things we connect to our routers – smart refrigerators, smart light bulbs, cameras, door locks. Everything is online. An old router may not be able to cope with such a number of connections. Sooner or later this will start to affect its proper functioning.
Safety experts recommend replacement every 3-5 years. This is not an invention of the manufacturers – this is approximately how much time separates the next generations of WiFi. For comparison, the first generation from 1999 achieved a speed of 11 Mb/s. Today's routers can transmit up to 10 Gb/s.
How do you know it's time to replace?
- The Internet slows down when you connect more devices
- The signal barely reaches the other room
- The router is more than 5 years old
- No longer receives security updates
- You bought faster internet and the speed did not increase
What will you gain from the new equipment?
Safety first. New routers have better encryption and receive regular security patches. In addition, better range – newer models cope better with obstacles such as walls or furniture. And finally, speed – modern routers support much faster transfers. A router is not wine – it doesn't get better with age. On the contrary, aging security makes it easier for hackers.