The warning published by the Protection Police a couple of weeks ago about the security risks of unupdated home routers was reflected in hundreds of calls to Telia’s customer service. However, the operator urges Finns not to rush.
Earlier in October, we reported on a risk that, according to the National Security Police (supo), threatens national security. In its annual safety review, Supo underlined the dangers of routers intended for home use.
Telia said in its own bulletin published in Supo’s vanaveti that routers that are more than five years old in particular can be a threat to information security, because they do not necessarily have the latest updates.
Hundreds of contacts to customer service
According to Telia, the concern of the protection police and the news written on the subject were reflected in the company’s customer service, which has since had to answer hundreds of inquiries about whether it is necessary to update one’s own router and how it is done in practice.
Director of Telia’s equipment business Markku Saranpää says in the announcement that the large number of concerned contacts is explained by the fact that the router is not a familiar device to very many people.
– Now, however, you shouldn’t worry too much, but find out about things first and only then take measures, Saranpää reassures in the announcement.
What to do?
The most typical data security challenges of routers are related to the vulnerabilities of the software used in them. If the holes are not patched, it is possible to use consumers’ connections, for example, in denial-of-service attacks.
Operators take care of the information security of their own devices, which is why the security police also recommends getting a home router through an operator – especially if you don’t know what the safe maintenance of a router requires.
Saranpää says in the release that testing the router sold by the operator is the responsibility of the operator.
– Functionality and protection against cyber attacks are reviewed in the testing. All important software and security updates are also provided to the routers through our and the device manufacturer’s systems, Saranpää emphasizes.
Read more about improving the data security of your home router from our previous story.
The story continues below the picture.
Modern routers. JOEL MAISALMI
How old is your device?
The operator can update the latest routers over the network.
– If your own router is more than five years old, it’s a good idea to check with your operator for instructions on how to update it or replace it with a new one.
You can check the age of the device from the label on the bottom or by looking for information based on the device model on the device manufacturer’s website.
Sources: Telia, Finnish Security Intelligence Service