Is My Wi-Fi Safe? A 5-Minute Home Network Check
Five yes-or-no questions. Nothing to change yet. Every no tells you exactly what to fix.
Your home Wi-Fi is in good shape if your router still gets updates, its admin password is not the default, it uses WPA3 or WPA2, remote management is off, and you recognize every connected device. Those five checks come from NSA, CISA and FTC guidance. Answer each one yes or no.
Does your router still get security updates?
This matters most. The NSA says to replace routers that reach end of life. The FBI warns that criminals take over old, unsupported routers and rent them out to hide their own activity.
If you are not sure: check your router’s grade or read our end-of-life guide.
From the team behind this checker
Want a router that takes this seriously by default?
- SecureRooms. Smart devices live apart from your computers.
- You approve every new device before it joins.
- Rio VPN built in. First year included.
- Set up in about 10 minutes from the app.
$199.99 · 1 year of VPN included, then $7.99/mo · 30-day returns · 1-year warranty. Rio builds this site and grades its own router by the same method.
Did you change the admin password?
The admin password guards your router’s settings, and it is different from your Wi-Fi password. The FTC says to change the default username and password.
If not: log in to your router and change it. Our default password guide explains why.
Does your Wi-Fi use WPA3 or WPA2?
Look in the router’s wireless or security settings. The FTC calls WPA3 the newer and best option. The NSA suggests WPA2 and WPA3 mixed mode if some older devices cannot use WPA3.
If it says WEP or WPA: switch it. If those are the only choices, the FTC says to try a software update, then get a new router. See what WPA3 is.
Is remote management turned off?
Remote management lets someone reach your router’s settings from the internet. CISA, the FTC, the FBI and the NSA all recommend turning it off.
If it is on: see how to turn off remote management.
Do you recognize every device on your Wi-Fi?
Your router lists everything connected to it. NETGEAR calls this list Attached Devices and shows each device’s name, IP address and MAC address. Other brands show it in their app or admin page.
If something looks unfamiliar: first check smart TVs, plugs and other gadgets, which often show odd names. If it is still a mystery, change your Wi-Fi password, so every device has to reconnect with the new one. The NSA also suggests putting smart gadgets on their own network. See how to separate smart devices.
What does your score mean?
- Five yes: your network is in good shape. Repeat this check every few months.
- One or two no: fix them today. Each takes a few minutes.
- No on updates: this is the most urgent. Settings cannot fix flaws that will never be patched, so plan to replace the router.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open your router’s connected devices list in its app or admin page and look for anything you do not recognize. NETGEAR shows each device’s name, IP address and MAC address there.
It is acceptable when some devices cannot use WPA3. The FTC calls WPA3 the newer and best option, and the NSA suggests WPA2 and WPA3 mixed mode for older devices.
Check whenever you add new devices, and every few months. For updates, turn on automatic updates if your router has them, as the NSA recommends.
Run the same five checks on it. Your provider controls its updates, so also confirm with them that your model is still supported.
Replace it. The NSA says to replace routers that reach end of life, and the FBI warns that criminals actively take over unsupported routers.
Sources
Dates show when each source was published or when we checked it.
- NSA Cybersecurity Information Sheet: Best Practices for Securing Your Home Network (February 22, 2023)
- CISA: Home Network Security (February 1, 2021, last revised March 23, 2023)
- FTC Consumer Advice: How To Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network (December 2022, checked October 7, 2026)
- FBI IC3 PSA I-050725-PSA: Cyber Criminal Proxy Services Exploiting End of Life Routers (May 7, 2025)
- NETGEAR Support: How do I view the devices on my network from my Nighthawk router? (last updated July 7, 2025)
Check your router
See how your router scores
Get its FCC status, CVEs, grade and an action plan.
Check a Router → Top 10 Safe Routers