The internet has become the most common utility in any household. Almost all of the activities can be achieved through the internet such as working on a job, making an online purchase, paying the bill, depositing the money to the bank, etc.
To set up the internet inside the house, besides the cable system, there must be a router which acts as a central gateway that generates a private home network and connect it to the global internet.
A majority of users have not paid attention to the importance of the router’s security. It can be done through many processes. One of the most common tactics is to change the default router’s password.
This exhaustive guide will walk you through the straightforward process of understanding the router and how to change its factory-set password.
Default router’s username and password
Every router has a default username and password based on its original manufacturer. Below you can view the list of the most common router’s username and their corresponding password.
Tips to navigate the list: you can press Control + F button combination (if you are on a Mac system, it is Command + F) to enter the search field. Then type out the name of your router brand.
Router brand | Login IP | Username | Password |
---|---|---|---|
Netgear router | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | password |
Linksys router | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
Asus router | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
Tp link router | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
Tp link router | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
Cisco router | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
3Com router | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
Belkin router | http://192.168.2.1 | admin | admin |
BenQ router | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
D-Link router | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
Digicom router | http://192.168.1.254 | user | password |
Digicom router | http://192.168.1.254 | admin | michelangelo |
Sitecom router | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
Sitecom router | http://192.168.0.1 | sitecom | admin |
Thomson router | http://192.168.1.254 | user | user |
US Robotics router | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
Now that you already know the default username and password of your router. It is an excellent recommendation to change the default password.
See more: How To Recover Your Router Username And Password
What is a router in a computer network?
The router is the hardware equipment that sets up and controls the traffic between the local home network, other connected devices as well as the internet.
Why is a router important?
The router is the first level of the security gateway of the network. It can detect suspicious intrusion into a private network.
There are various security measures that you can interact with your router from a home network to enable the highest level of security and keep your information and data safe from malicious outside attack.
See also: How to set up your IP address ip:192.168.8.1
How does a typical router work?
A router can establish a connection from a modem to other physical devices and transfer the communication via the cable, DSL modem or fiber to the world-wide internet.
There is also a wireless router that creates connectivity through the wireless protocol.
Router IP address
Every router is manufactured with an internal IP address that you can log in and access its administrative homepage.
This is how you can get total control of your router and the entire network associated with the router.
Some routers will have this IP address printed on the back or the bottom of the device. However, if you cannot find it, there is a list of the most common Login IP that you can see below.
If you still cannot figure it out, you can also call your manufacturer so that they can guide you through the process.
Activities you can do with your router at home
Now that you already have all the technical knowledge about the router, there is a list of activities that common users will often interact with their router. They include:
- Login to the router and change the default password
- Set up a new security option for a wireless router
- Update the firmware of the router to the latest and secured version
In the next section, we will discuss why you should know your default router password and why you should change it regularly.
How to change the router’s default password
You might ask why it is crucial to change the default password of the router. Continue reading to find out why.
The router is the center of the network. It is crucial to keep the router secured from all the curious and malicious mind.
That is the number one reason to change the password to make sure that your network cannot be compromised without any effort. It is your first line of defense.
Every router comes with a static and pre-set username and password from the factory (the list that you can see above). If you do not change the password after the initial router setup, anyone can quickly login to your router network. They can spy, steal data and control your entire network.
Do not worry if you do not know how to change the router’s password. It is a very simple and straightforward process, which requires very minimal technical knowledge.
Below are the steps of how you can change the router’s password.
Log into the router
You can use any of your favorite browsers (Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.) to login to your router.
It is important to use the right login IP address that matches up with your router brand (review the list above if you still do not know what your login address is)
A rule of thumb is you could always try the address http://192.168.0.1/ or http://192.168.1.1/ It is the most common IP address for a lot of routers from different brands.
There will be a field or a popup window that asks for the username and password. Use the list above to enter the default router’s username and password. You will log in to the network router successfully.
Navigate to the administrative section to change the password
There should be a section for administrative activities and policies on the left panel of your router’s homepage. (Also check the security section or every other section if you cannot find it. Each router will show different pages with different configurations)
Enter your new secured password
Now you can choose a new password to enter. It is critically important that you should follow a technical guideline to pick out a secured password for this process. Avoid duplicate and common passwords as much as possible. It will make it easier for cyber attackers to guess and brute force the password into your home network.
Once you have entered the new password, you have to re-enter it again to confirm the password. After that, save this setting. The router will now use the new password. If you cannot use the new password, reboot the router to make sure the changing effect will take place.
Knowledge of the security network
You should be able to change the password of your router by now. You can agree that it is not a complicated process to follow through.
It might be convenient to keep the default password so that you do not have to remember the new password.
However, a secured network will often save you more trouble in the future. You will have a good line of defense against any infiltration attempt to steal your private data and information.
Furthermore, you can perform other essential router’s activities besides changing the password by this same procedure (such as directing the internet traffic and set up a maximum connecting speed of your router).