Broadband security warning by watchdog

Consumer watchdogs are warning that up to seven million households could be vulnerable to hackers because of old broadband routers' security flaws.

Which? says its tests on a number of old router models used by internet service providers found two-thirds had weak default passwords that were easily guessable and could therefore enable a hacker to gain access, while others did not receive regular security updates designed to protect them from new viruses.

Which? said routers from EE, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Vodafone were among those affected.

Kate Bevan, Which? computing editor, said: "Given our increased reliance on our internet connections during the pandemic, it is worrying that so many people are still using out-of-date routers that could be exploited by criminals.”

Virgin Media said it did not "recognise or accept the findings" of the Which? research and that 90% of its customers were using its latest router models.

The BT Group, which also owns EE, said it wanted to "reassure customers that all our routers are constantly monitored for possible security threats and updated when needed".

TalkTalk said a "very small proportion" of the affected devices were being used by customers and users can "change their passwords easily at any time".

Vodafone said it had stopped supplying one of the devices named and another "will continue to receive security updates as long as it remains on an active customer subscription".