Does Your WiFi Extender for Gaming Have Security Flaws? 

Here's What You Should Do

UPDATED: APR 14, 2023

Shockingly, IBM X-Force researchers have discovered that Wi-Fi extenders face remote attacks that could allow hackers to access your home network and even spy on you. 
Why?
How could this happen?

Why WiFi extenders for gaming are vulnerable?

Since many gaming WiFi extenders do not have the same security features as standard routers, they are easy targets for hackers. Also, these devices are designed to be placed in a gaming environment, so they're often not as well protected as other devices in your home. 

That's why a lot of network vulnerabilities when using a WiFi extender for gaming. 

What most people don't know, the most common is a man-in-the-middle attack. Man-in-the-middle attacks can be broadly classified into two categories: active and passive.

  • In an active attack, the attacker intercepts and modifies messages between the two victims without their knowledge or consent. 
  • In a passive attack, the attacker simply eavesdrops on the communication between the two victims. Both types of attacks can have devastating consequences.

In reality, researchers used the same computer to connect the gaming WiFi extender and a standard WiFi extender for studies. The gaming computer's network susceptibility was more than twice that of the conventional WiFi extender.

How Man-in-the-middle Attacks Work


What you can do to protect your gaming WiFi extender from such attacks?

Don't worry too much, here are some more ways to help your WiFi extender for gaming avoid cyber security breaches as much as possible

Use a WPA2 encryption

It may sound strange to most people.

So what is WPA2?

WPA2 is the newest and most secure form of WiFi encryption, so be sure to use it if you want to keep your information safe.

Hackers can use many methods to break into WiFi networks, but WPA2 encryption can help prevent them from doing so. One way hackers can gain access to WiFi networks is by using brute-force attacks. This is where they try to guess passwords by trying millions of different combinations. WPA2 encryption makes this harder by using longer and more complex passwords.

Another way hackers can access WiFi networks is by using man-in-the-middle attacks. This is where they position themselves between the router and the devices connected to it. They can then intercept the data being transmitted and cause all kinds of problems. WPA2 encryption can help prevent man-in-the-middle attacks by using a system called 802.1x. It uses the server to authenticate devices trying to connect to the network. This means hackers need access to the server to be successful.

If you are worried about your gaming WiFi extender being hacked, the best thing to do is to make sure it uses WPA2 encryption. This will help protect your network and keep your information safe.If you are worried about your gaming WiFi extender being hacked, the best thing to do is to make sure it uses WPA2 encryption. This will help protect your network and keep your information safe.


Use Wpa2 Encryption For Gaming WiFi Extender

Use a VPN

What does VPN do?

A VPN encrypts your data, making your gaming WiFi extender impossible to intercept and read by anyone who shouldn't have access to it. This means that even if someone hacks into your gaming WiFi extender, they won't be able to read your data.

Apart from this VPN is also useful for bypassing geo-restrictions. For example, if you want to access US-only content from outside the US, you can connect to a US-based VPN server and access your desired content.

You can easily set up vpn encryption for your game WiFi extender by following these steps:

1. Connect your game console to the WiFi extender using a cable.

2. Go to the settings of your game console and enable vpn encryption.

3. Save the changes and restart your game console.

4. That's it! Your game console is now encrypted and all your traffic will go through the VPN.

Use Vpn Encrypts For Gaming Wifi Extender

Keep your firmware up-to-date

Disturbingly, the ever-changing network landscape threatens your network security all the time. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your firmware up to date.

Unfortunately, many people never update their firmware. In some cases, that's because they don't know how. Updating firmware is usually a simple process:

1. Check your manufacturer's website regularly for updates.

2. Download and install updates as soon as they're released.

3. Keep a backup of your current firmware in case you need to roll back.

Keep Your Firmware Up-to-date

Change the default password on your gaming WiFi extender

Many people don't realize that changing the default password on your WiFi extender for gaming is one of the best things you can do to improve the security of your home network. Doing this makes it much more difficult for hackers to access your network.

Extenders are a great way to boost your WiFi signal, but they can also be a weak spot in your home security if they're not correctly configured. Changing the default password is a simple step that can help protect your home network.

Change The Default Password On Your Gaming WiFi Extender

Use a strong password and never share it with anyone

In addition to the above methods, by using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, you can make your password nearly impossible to crack. This keeps your information safe from people who shouldn't have access to it and gives you peace of mind that your device is safe.

Use A Strong Password For Gaming Wifi Extender

Final Thoughts

Everyone should be aware that the network situation is changing rapidly and that network security is of paramount importance. If you find your WiFi extender for gaming has security flaws, you can follow the methods above to troubleshoot and fix them to help prevent future hackers!

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Written By: Lonny Norris

Lonny is head of Network & Communications technology at WebEx. His experience spans over 18 years and he has worked as an advisor for major telecommunications companies across the United States.