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Linksys releases its first-ever Wi-Fi 7 mesh router system
Linksys has released its first-ever mesh Wi-Fi 7 router system, the Velop Pro 7. These routers are capable of multi-link operations and can connect up to 200 devices.
Linksys' first WiFi 6E routers are now available to buy
Linksys has launched its first WiFi 6E-certified systems.
Linksys reveals a WiFi 6E mesh system starting at $450
A single AXE8400 node costs $450 and will cover up to 3,000 square feet.
Linksys unveils a more affordable mesh router with WiFi 6
Linksys' new Max-Stream AX1800 Mesh WiFi 6 router promises whole-home networking and fast speeds for a relatively modest $150.
Linksys' Velop mesh routers can detect intruders using WiFi
If you want to improve your home security but would rather not add cameras or sensors to your living space, you could try using your router instead. Linksys has introduced a new motion sensing subscription service, Linksys Aware, which uses data from Velop mesh routers to monitor a home through WiFi signals.
Over 21,000 Linksys routers leaked their device connection histories
Certain Linksys WiFi routers might be sharing far more data than their users would like. Security researcher Troy Mursch has reported that 33 models, including some Max-Stream and Velop routers, are exposing their entire device connection histories (including MAC addresses, device names and OS versions) online. They also share whether or not their default passwords have changed. Scans have shown between 21,401 and 25,617 vulnerable routers online, 4,000 of which were still using their default passwords.
Linksys' Max Stream router can be the center of a mesh network
It's CES, and that means it's time for Linksys to unveil yet another WiFi router -- but this one could be particularly important if you're tired of dead spots in coverage. Its new Max Stream AC2200 is a typical (if quick) tri-band router with 2.2Gbps of combined bandwidth, but includes built-in mesh networking support. If your WiFi bogs down in the bedroom, you can add Velop nodes to keep things humming. You don't have to buy a dedicated mesh system (or litter your home with full-size routers) to guarantee consistent speeds.
Data-stealing router malware bypasses web encryption
A recently discovered strain of router malware appears to be much worse than thought. Cisco Talos has learned that VPNFilter can not only render devices unusable, but can bypass the SSL encryption you often see on the web. A module in the malware intercepts outgoing web requests to turn them into non-secure (that is, basic HTTP) requests, helping it steal sign-ins and other sensitive data when possible. It can also use man-in-the-middle attacks to insert hostile JavaScript into outside websites, and target devices beyond the router itself, such as PCs on the local network.
The Linksys router that prioritizes Xbox One gaming is now available
That router Linksys showed off at CES this year -- yes, the one that prioritizes gaming traffic from Xbox consoles -- is now available for purchase in the US. The WRT32XB is the first router designed to automatically detect any Xbox One, including the Xbox One S and the Xbox One X, and put it above any other gadget connected to its network. While it was obviously created for serious Xbox gamers, a spokesperson told us Linksys will roll out a software update this summer that will allow the router to prioritize all gaming traffic regardless of the device, whether it's a console, a PC or even a smartphone.
Foxconn buys Linksys owner Belkin to join the smart home battle
While we've focused on efforts of giants like Google, Apple and Amazon to dominate "smart home" devices, manufacturing giant Foxconn is making its entry by acquiring Belkin International to create a "global consumer electronics leader." Besides the accessories you probably associate with Belkin, it also owns other brands like WeMo, Phyn and, most notably, Linksys, which it acquired from Cisco in 2013. Every one of these internet-connected devices will need to plug into the router at some point, so it's easy to see why Foxconn would want to start there. The $866 million purchase is, however, subject to approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. After Broadcomm was forced to give up its attempted Qualcomm acquisition, it's impossible to be certain if this deal will go through.
Google Chromecast devices are messing with WiFi connections
If you've been having some issues with your WiFi connection, the culprit could be your Chromecast devices. There have now been multiple reports of users losing WiFi connections when Google devices with the "Cast" feature, like Chromecast and Google Home devices, are added to a user's network. Initially, reports suggested that TP-Link Archer C7 routers were the only ones affected by the issue, but subsequent reports have noted that ASUS, Linksys, Netgear and Synology routers may also be impacted.
Linksys introduces the first router that prioritizes Xbox One gaming
This week at CES, Linksys is debuting a new gaming router, the WRT32XB, which is the first (and only) device that's specifically optimized for the demands of the Xbox One. It's basically an Xbox One-specific model of the WRT32X Gaming Router, and it sells for a similar price: $300. It will be available in February.
Linksys has a new tri-band range extender to eliminate WiFi dead spots
If you're not shopping for a new router but still need something to cover far-flung areas of your home (have you tried aluminum foil yet? Seriously.) check out the latest hardware from Linksys. This "Max-Stream Tri-Band AC3000 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE9000)" brings all the bells and whistles needed to keep things running smoothly, even with multiple devices.
Linksys’ new router puts your gaming needs before everyone else’s
You might not think twice about your router (unless it crashes), but gamers looking for every edge do. For those folks, Linksys has unveiled the $300 WRT32X Gaming Router, a model it developed in collaboration with Rivet Networks. It uses that company's "Killer Prioritization Engine" to reduce ping times by as much as 77 percent, Linksys claims, provided you have a Razer, Alienware, MSI or other PC with the same tech.
The CIA has been rooting around in your WiFi router
A recent Wikileaks document dump revealed that the CIA has been hacking wireless routers. The documents suggest it has been going on for years and as many as 25 devices from 10 different manufacturers were targeted.
Linksys is the latest company to unveil a WiFi mesh system
Mesh networking has become trendy for folks looking to fill every nook and cranny of their homes with WiFi. So it should be no surprise that the makers of the most iconic router ever is unveiling its own system. The Linksys tri-band Velop setup is a modular system that the company says is made to expand as your needs do.
Linksys boosts the speed of its customizable WRT router
Linksys has launched a new router in its WRT lineup beloved by WiFi tweaking aficionados. The WRT3200ACM has more bandwidth for its Tri-Band 802.11AC tech, amping the max speed to 2.6 Gbps, double the last WRT model. At the same time, it offers open-source firmware support for OpenWRT or DD-WRT, and no parental controls or other bloatware. It also comes with up to 512MB of DDR3 RAM, eSATA and USB like the last model, making it easier to load and run custom firmware.
The Linksys EA9500 pierced my apartment's WiFi-proof walls
I live in a two-bedroom San Francisco apartment built in 1916. It has a view of the bay and the top of the Golden Gate bridge. There's crown molding, high ceilings and some pretty dope neighbors. It should be perfect. And it is -- if you're cool with plaster walls blocking 90 percent of all WiFi signals.
Linksys adds two multi-stream MU-MIMO routers to its lineup
It's router season here at CES 2016, and Linksys has dropped two new MU-MIMO (multiuser, multiple input, multiple output) network gatekeepers. They take their place above and below the current AC2600 router in the company's lineup. If you're interested in these routers but your computer doesn't MU-MIMO, the company also announced a USB dongle that'll make it compatible.
Linksys unveils networked storage and its fastest WiFi router yet
You knew that Linksys wouldn't sit idly by while competitors like ASUS and Netgear rolled out extra-fast WiFi routers -- sure enough, the Belkin-owned networking giant is coming to CES 2015 with some speedy wireless of its own. The company's EA8500 promises brisk, interruption-free 802.11ac at 1.73 Gbps thanks to both multi-user antennas (which keeps the speed up when the network is crowded) and a relatively quick 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor. It's also loaded with frills, such as four Gigabit Ethernet jacks as well as ports to share your eSATA and USB 3.0 storage. The EA8500 will be expensive at $280 when it ships in the spring, but it'll be accompanied by the $180 WRT1200AC if you're willing to settle for "just" 1.3 Gbps while maintaining similar features and hackable firmware.