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Linksys rolls out a pair of more affordable WiFi 6 mesh routers
The Hydra 6 and Atlas 6 will both hit stores in the US this summer.
Netgear's first WiFi 6E router offers plenty of bandwidth for streaming
Netgear's new Nighthawk RAXE500 is the company's first WiFi 6E router, which will use the 6GHz spectrum, granting it access to 59 more channels of bandwidth.
Qualcomm's next-gen mesh network tech supports palm-sized routers
Nodes based on the Immersive Home Platform could flood your home with gigabit WiFi.
Google Fiber customers can now use their own routers
If you’re a Google Fiber customer, you were given a router to use with your service when you signed on. Google is changing that, announcing that you’ll be able to use whatever router you want with its internet service. According to the company, the router included with service was “chosen to deliver the best performance for your home network with your Google Fiber connection.”
The star of Netgear’s first WiFi 6 gaming router is its software
Netgear's first WiFi 6 gaming router lets you fully customize your connection for the best internet experience during a match.
TP-Link's Archer GX90 is a tri-band WiFi 6 gaming router
Gaming on WiFi can be a gamble, with the potential for intermittent signals at the wrong time ruining a match. With the recently introduced WiFi 6 standard, compatible routers can offer faster and more reliable wireless internet when multiple devices are connected. Now, with CES as a backdrop, TP-Link is introducing a WiFi 6 router specifically for gamers.
BYU researchers extend WiFi range by 200 feet with a software upgrade
As we fill our homes with connected devices, we'll need WiFi to reach around every corner. One solution is hardware like Amazon's Eero routers and Google's Nest WiFi, physical devices that give your primary WiFi signal a boost. But researchers think there might be another way: a software protocol that extends the distance connected devices can send and receive WiFi by more than 60 meters.
Russia denies planning botnet cyberattack on Ukraine
Russia has denied planning a major cyberattack that would disrupt soccer's Champions League final this weekend. Ukraine's SBU security service said on Wednesday that malware infecting hundreds of thousands of routers was the work of Russian hackers preparing for an assault on the country. The attackers were accused of targeting Saturday's match in Kiev. According to Reuters, the Kremlin has strongly denied these accusations.
Ukraine claims it’s the target of a massive Russian cyberattack
Cisco says hackers have infected more than 500,000 routers and other devices with malware to prepare for a cyberattack, and Ukraine could be the target. The country's SBU security service claims the malware is evidence Russia is preparing for a major attack "aimed at destabilising the situation" during the Champions League soccer final in Kiev Saturday, Reuters reported. Ukraine's annual Constitution Day celebrations may also be a target, according to the AP.
ASUS' new Lyra routers are seriously unconventional
ASUS has developed an interesting habit. Forget routers with subtle designs that blend into your living room -- the company has started making routers that look... unusual, to say the least. Case in point: The Blue Cave router that launched at Computex last year. At CES, ASUS unveiled the Lyra Trio, a triangular mesh router that looks like a wonky iron, and the Lyra Voice. The latter is a mesh router that doubles as a stereo speaker with Alexa built in. Both will be available sometime in the first half of 2018, but ASUS hasn't revealed a price yet.
ASUS will use routers you already own for a mesh WiFi setup
Getting WiFi to every corner of your home is made much easier these days with a mesh network, which uses a specialized router and individual nodes that can configure themselves. Companies like Netgear, Samsung and ASUS all have kits of varying price that can help you make one in your own home, but you generally have to purchase a whole new set of devices to make it work. Now, ASUS is offering AiMesh, a system that uses your current ASUS routers to create a mesh network without pricey extra hardware.
Netgear’s Orbi Satellite takes mesh WiFi networks outdoors
WiFi mesh networking is not for the faint of wallet, but if you're going to spend the money, Netgear's Orbi is one of the better systems out there. Until now, it's been geared toward indoor home and apartment use, but Netgear has introduced the Orbi Outdoor Satellite (RBS50Y). The device lets you expand coverage by up to 2,500 square feet, making it ideal for use by your pool, garage or guest house.
The best wireless router (for most people)
By Jim Salter This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending over 100 hours testing 18 routers, we think the Netgear R7000P is the best wireless router for most people. It's fast and reliable at both short and long ranges, it balances the demands of connected devices automatically to avoid congestion, and it works well right out of the box, with no arcane tweaking required.
Severe WiFi security flaw puts millions of devices at risk
Researchers have discovered a key flaw in the WPA2 WiFi encryption protocol that could allow hackers to intercept your credit card numbers, passwords, photos and other sensitive information. The flaws, dubbed "Key Reinstallation Attacks," or "Krack Attacks," are in the WiFi standard and not specific products. That means that just about every router, smartphone and PC out there could be impacted, though attacks against Linux and Android 6.0 or greater devices may be "particularly devastating," according to KU Leuven University's Mathy Vanhoef and Frank Piessens, who found the flaw.
D-Link would like you to forget about its lax security
Back in January, the US Federal Trade Commission accused D-Link of putting customers in harm's way with its extremely negligent approach to security. According to the FTC, the company left hundreds of thousands of customers vulnerable to attack by failing to secure their routers and cameras against critical vulnerabilities. At the time, the company denied the allegations, claiming no one had been affected by an actual breach, but that didn't change the fact that D-Link left crucial security information out in the open for months. Now the company is trying to have the case thrown out of court on the grounds that the US government has no jurisdiction over the company.
Virgin Media uses home routers to boost its public WiFi network
Virgin Media is starting to expand its public Wi-Fi network by turning customer routers into hotspots. The upgrade, which was first teased in 2015, is only compatible with SuperHub v3 routers for now. Customers are being alerted to the change via email and can choose to opt-out, otherwise they'll be connected automatically. As ISP Review reports, your broadband shouldn't be affected if you decide to help Virgin Media. That's because "additional, separate" bandwidth will be allocated by the provider.
Samsung squeezed a smart home hub into a WiFi router
Samsung isn't content with simply unveiling the Galaxy S8 today. In addition to its latest flagship phone, the company is also showing off a new Gear 360 camera, a desktop dock and, interestingly enough, a router. The Connect Home Smart Wi-Fi System is a mouthful of a name, but the device itself may actually reduce clutter in your home, since it removes the need for a separate SmartThings Hub. Samsung hasn't shared information on price and availability yet, but we do know the Connect Home system will be sold on its own or in a three-pack. A so-called Pro version will also be available.
FTC vs D-Link: All bark, no bite
Most routers are bad. Bad to their little router bones. But they were made that way. And when you get one of the bad ones in your home, they sit there like little privacy and security time bombs, just waiting to become conduits of evil in your house. You think I'm joking. But if you look at the state of router security, then you will know this is a big problem. And it's one that's nearly impossible for normal people to fix.
ASUS finally has mesh routers of its own
After years of being clunky concepts, mesh wireless routers are finally becoming viable options for your home, thanks to the likes of Eero and Google WiFi. At CES, ASUS finally unveiled its own mesh solutions, the HiveSpot and HiveDot routers. HiveSpot, the more powerful of the pair, is a triband AC2134 router, whereas HiveDot is a dual-band option with slower AC1300 speeds. They look like fairly simple pods, similar to Google WiFi, though it's unclear how big they are from the press photos.
Netgear Orbi promises to rid your home of WiFi dead zones
One of the most frustrating first world problems today is not being able to connect to your home WiFi network in spots that are farther away from your router. Netgear believes it can get rid of that problem with its latest product: a WiFi system called Orbi. The $400 basic kit comprises of a router and a satellite that the company says will cover up to 4,000 square feet together. Orbi's standout feature, said Netgear, is its tri-band mesh system that dedicates one channel to extending the internet from the router to the satellite while keeping the other two free for your other devices' connections.
