ismyroutersafe.com - Security Intelligence

The gap between what Washington knows about your home network and what you've been told is unacceptable.

Federal agencies, foreign governments, and criminal networks have all concluded that home routers are a national security surface. Most Americans have no idea. We built this library to close that gap - researched from primary sources, written in plain English, and published because people deserve to understand the technology they depend on.

Primary sources only
Every claim is traceable to FCC filings, NIST NVD records, CISA advisories, or Congressional testimony. No second-hand speculation.
Written for real people
Security jargon is a barrier, not a credential. If your neighbor can't understand it after one read, we haven't done our job.
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11 articles · 4 categories · Free · No signup required
11 articles
FCC Router Ban 2026 - official document with blocked stamp
The 2026 FCC Router Ban: What's Banned, What Isn't, and What to Do
Plain-English explanation of the FCC's March 2026 foreign router ban. What the Covered List means, which routers are affected, what stays legal, and the legitimate debate about whether this actually improves security.
Volt Typhoon - Chinese state-sponsored cyber operations
Threat Intel 10 min read
Volt, Flax & Salt Typhoon: How China's State Hackers Targeted Home Routers
Plain-English guide to three Chinese state-sponsored cyberattack campaigns that used home routers as attack infrastructure. What happened, which routers were targeted, and what it means for your home.
Router replacement decision guide
Guide 10 min read
Should You Replace Your Router in 2026? A Security Decision Guide
An honest framework for deciding whether to replace your router after the FCC ban. What to look for, what's currently available with clean supply chains, and when to act vs. wait.
Chinese government surveillance and intelligence law
FCC & Policy 8 min read
China's National Intelligence Law and Your Router
China's 2017 National Intelligence Law requires all Chinese companies to assist state intelligence. Here's what this means for TP-Link, Huawei, and other Chinese-made routers in your home.
Laptop showing router firmware update in progress
Guide 8 min read
How to Update Router Firmware (And Why It's Critical)
Router firmware updates patch security vulnerabilities. Most routers don't update automatically. Here's how to check and update your router firmware right now, for every major brand.
NSA headquarters - government security recommendations
Guide 8 min read
NSA Router Security Recommendations: What They Actually Say
The NSA and CISA have published specific home router security guidance. Here's a plain-English breakdown of exactly what they recommend - and how to do each step on your own router.
DNS hijacking - network traffic interception visualization
Threat Intel 8 min read
What Is DNS Hijacking? How Routers Get Compromised
DNS hijacking redirects your internet traffic through attacker-controlled servers. It's one of the most common router attacks. Here's how it works, how to detect it, and how to stop it.
Old abandoned router - end of life means no more security patches
Concept 8 min read
Router End-of-Life Explained: Why It's a Security Emergency
When a router reaches end-of-life, it stops receiving security patches forever. Any vulnerability found after EOL will never be fixed. Here's what EOL means and what to do about it.
Security analyst reviewing CVE vulnerability reports
Concept 8 min read
What Is a CVE? Router Security Vulnerabilities Explained
CVEs are officially catalogued security vulnerabilities. Here's what CVE numbers mean for your router, what CVSS scores indicate, and how to tell which CVEs are actually serious.
FCC regulatory documents - the Covered List explained
FCC & Policy 7 min read
What Is the FCC Covered List?
The FCC Covered List identifies networking equipment deemed a national security threat. TP-Link, Huawei, Hikvision, and others are listed. Here's what it means, what's on it, and why it matters.
WPA3 WiFi security encryption - is your router protected?
Concept 7 min read
What Is WPA3? Is Your Router Using It?
WPA3 is the latest WiFi security protocol. If your router uses WPA2 only, your network is at risk from KRACK and offline dictionary attacks. Here's the full explanation and how to check your router.
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