My router MIGHT be insecure!

[Trigger]

Earlier today a small message popped into view - I saw that it was from my Internet Security program - and indicated that my router is “insecure”. Before I could press “Print Screen” the message had disappeared. Fortunately, it just appeared again and this time I managed to copy the screen (see attached). Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to click on “Why may a Wi-Fi network be insecure”?
I Googled that question - and the first link that appeared was a “post” from Kaspersky - dated today! https://blog.kaspersky.co.uk/wi-fi-sao-paulo/. Scanning through the article - I get the impression that the message is that it “might be insecure” rather than my router “IS insecure”. If so, then, hopefully, no action is needed from me.
Any comments/advice about this would be much appreciated.
Thanks

[boatbuilder]

Firstly, that article is actually dated 17th June 2014, Trigger (immediately below the headline of the article). The page that opens just happens to display the current date at the top.

Unfortunately I can't offer any specific advice on the message. Providing your internet connection was set up in accordance with the instructions that came with it (the router) and you have the appropriate encryption in place then there's not an awful lot more you can do. If it's possible to change the access code used to log on to your router and see if that stops the message appearing then maybe you could try that. Otherwise, is there a Netgear forum you could consult over the issue? Remember that NOTHING is secure in the digital world - even the FBI has been hacked.

Here's a forum on the same issue: http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=301535

[SL-Dave]

The message displayed shows that either there is no password configured for this network, or it is configured poorly, ie- WEP instead of WPA2. WEP uses basic password encryption, WPA used more advanced, and WPA2 uses more advanced combined with encryption. This is something that is shown in the router settings, so you would need to log into the admin panel of the router to test this out. In theory, it should be a simple case of ticking the correct option.... although in practise it may be harder than we all think! It's mainly about encryption, which is done automatically by the computer and websites you visit, as long as everything is set up correctly. For example, Facebook automatically takes you to https://facebook.com; the s making it more secure. Most browsers will also show a padlock symbol in the address bar when visiting an encrypted-connection website.

If there is no password at all, then good luck - your computer has probably already been hacked! You most definitely need to change your network from publicly accessible, to one with a password, done via router admin panel.

[Trigger]

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated. I realise, of course, that it can only be general advice but - some advice is better than none! Hopefully, it will “point me in the right direction”! I’ve found a detailed Netgear article about accessing a router - which should be a help. It was set up by a professional engineer - so just hope that it was set up properly in the first place. But - I may need help from a Higher Authority! Also think it’ll be worth speaking with my ISP’s support - they might be able to give some general guidance to this - even though the router wasn’t supplied by them.

Oh the joys of computing!

[Trigger]

Further to my original post - I’ve delved around on the internet about this. I’ve Googled and found a Kasperksy Forum page about this “pop-up”. One comment is “Generally speaking you don't need to worry, unless this alert keeps popping up all the time.” I also noted that the last line on that “pop-up” message is: “Don’t show for this Wi-Fi Network” - so it looks as though you can stop it from popping up! This could suggest that something triggered into appearing - rather than there being a “problem” as such.

I’ve also checked my Netgear Router’s “home” on my PC and will check through the settings there. I feel certain that when it was set-up it was “secured” at the time. But will check this out.

[boatbuilder]

I guess that is the link I gave you in my earlier reply Trigger.

[Trigger]

I guess that is the link I gave you in my earlier reply Trigger.

It wasn’t actually! [Smiley: Hangs head in shame!] Well, it was - and it wasn’t! I’d read the responses on here but didn’t use any link. Then I went off searching . . . I googled “Wi-fi security alert for Home wi-fi” and, one result came up which gave the text in a forum without seeing the actual forum - i.e. like seeing just the text on here but without seeing the actual site!

The link I got was http://forum.kaspersky.com/lofiversion/ ... 01535.html - and there is, at the top left of the page, a link to the actual forum which you had posted!

And I switched off the computer around 12:30 am!