How Often Should You Reset Your Router? A Cyber Security Expert Explains

As a cyber security expert who has specialized in networking and router security for over a decade, one of the most common questions I get is: "how often should I reset my router?". The answer is not necessarily straightforward as there are many factors to consider. However, understanding the security and performance benefits of regularly resetting your router and following best practices can help keep your home network humming along safely and reliably.

In this article, I‘ll dive into the technical details of why resetting your router is important, signs that you‘re due for a reset, and offer clear guidance on how often to perform this often-overlooked maintenance task. I‘ll also share some statistics, data and other tips to keep your router secure as part of a holistic networking strategy.

Router Reset vs Reboot: What‘s the Difference?

First, it‘s important to clarify that "resetting" your router is not the same as "rebooting" it. Rebooting your router just involves powering it off and on again without changing any settings. This is akin to restarting your computer when it‘s having issues.

Resetting, on the other hand, clears your router‘s custom settings and restores everything back to factory defaults. This means any configuration changes you‘ve made like your Wi-Fi password, network name, port forwarding settings, etc. will be wiped out. Because of this, resetting should be done strategically and much less often than rebooting.

Technically speaking, when you reboot your router, the operating system shuts down all processes, clears the RAM, and restarts all the router software when powered back on. A reset, however, clears both the RAM and the NVRAM which holds your configurations. The reset also triggers a firmware update if one is available.

Why Resetting Your Router Is Important

Now that we‘ve clarified the difference between a reboot and reset, let‘s explore the key benefits of resetting from a performance and security standpoint.

1. Resetting helps resolve connectivity and speed issues

Over time, your router‘s memory (RAM) can get bogged down with data from the high volume of traffic passing through. Think of it like a clogged sink that needs to be cleared. Resetting flushes this memory and gives your router a fresh start.

Resetting also forces your router to re-select the least crowded communication channel for each frequency. This can help mitigate congestion caused by interference from nearby networks or other household devices.

2. Resetting keeps your router patched and protected from vulnerabilities

One of the most important security benefits of resetting your router is that it triggers the installation of any firmware updates that have been released since your last reset.

Router firmware is the core operating system that controls the router‘s functionality and security parameters. Router manufacturers are continually pushing out firmware updates to patch known security vulnerabilities (CVEs), fix bugs, and improve performance.

According to the Fraunhofer Institute, 37% of Wi-Fi routers have unpatched vulnerabilities. Resetting your router regularly helps to ensure you benefit from the latest patches and mitigations against common exploits like cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, DNS poisoning, and authentication bypass flaws.

Resetting is also a good way to flush out any malware that may be lurking on your router. Sophisticated router malware like VPNFilter can survive a reboot, but a full factory reset will wipe it out.

3. Resetting changes your IP address which makes you harder to target

Another benefit of resetting is that it will change your public IP address (the one visible to the outside world). Most ISPs use DHCP to dynamically assign IP addresses. Each time your router powers on and authenticates, it‘s likely to get a new address.

This is beneficial from a security perspective because potential attackers are constantly scanning known IP ranges to find vulnerable targets. Cycling your IP address makes it harder for them to fix you in their sights. It‘s kind of like moving to a new address after your old one was made public.

Of course, resetting isn‘t a complete anonymity solution as determined attackers have ways of correlating your old and new IP addresses. But it‘s still a helpful tactic as part of a broader security strategy.

4. Resetting mitigates memory leaks and overheating

A more technical reason to reset your router periodically is that it can help alleviate issues caused by memory leaks and heat buildup.

Like any software, router firmware is susceptible to bugs that can cause it to consume memory but not properly release it over time. This can lead to performance degradation and instability.

Resetting effectively reboots the OS which releases those hung memory allocations and gives your router a clean slate. This is why you may find that your router needs to be reset more frequently when you‘re pushing the limits of its hardware capabilities with intensive usage.

Excess heat is one of the biggest killers of router hardware. As your router struggles to keep up with high throughput (common with smart home setups, gaming, 4K streaming, etc.), heat can build up. Resetting allows your router a cool-off period to avoid dangerous overheating conditions. Planned obsolescence is real in consumer router hardware, but regular resets can help extend your router‘s lifespan.

Signs Your Router Is Due for a Reset

The effects of the issues I described above will typically manifest in a few telltale signs that indicate it‘s time to reset your router:

• Slow speeds or spotty connectivity, particularly if your connection drops at regular intervals
• Lack of security updates installed – check your router‘s settings for the last update timestamp
• You‘re adding a lot of new devices to your network which is taxing your router‘s memory and processing (particularly IoT gadgets)
• Your router‘s admin panel is unresponsive or glitchy
• Devices are showing as connected to Wi-Fi but you can‘t access the internet
• Your router shows abnormal data transfer spikes that you can‘t account for
• Your connection seems fine for basic browsing, but buffers a lot when gaming or streaming video

How Often Should You Reset Your Router?

With an understanding of why resetting is important and some of the common signs to look out for, here are my recommendations for how often to reset based on a few key factors:

Of course, these are general guidelines and your mileage may vary. If you‘re experiencing frequent issues, you may need to reset on a more aggressive schedule. Conversely, if things are running smoothly, you can probably stretch out the intervals a bit longer.

The key is to be proactive and not wait until your connection grinds to a halt before taking action. Adding a recurring reminder in your calendar is a good way to stay on top of this maintenance task.

It‘s also important not to go overboard with resetting. Resetting too frequently can actually cause more problems than it solves. This is because each reset will kick off a new automated channel selection process and DHCP IP address acquisition which can lead to instability.

Tips for a Successful Reset

When you‘re ready to reset, the process is quite simple but there are a few key steps and precautions to keep in mind:

1. Save any important custom configuration settings you‘ve made as these will be lost after the reset. Consider backing up your router‘s configuration file if your model supports that.
2. Power off your modem, router, and any network switches.
3. Disconnect your router‘s power cable and WAN (internet) cable.
4. Wait at least 30 seconds. This ensures that every capacitor is fully drained and your router will perform a fresh boot.
5. Reconnect your router‘s power cable and give it a couple minutes to boot up. Confirm the lights are indicating a successful power on.
6. Reconnect your WAN cable and wait for your router to re-authenticate with your ISP and receive a public IP address (may take another couple minutes).
7. Power your modem and other network hardware back on.
8. Connect a device and confirm your internet connection is working. You‘ll likely need to re-enter your Wi-Fi credentials and re-configure any custom settings.

After your reset, keep an eye out for any firmware updates that may have been applied. It‘s a good idea to review your router‘s settings to make sure everything is configured securely. At minimum you should:

• Change your router‘s admin password to something strong and unique
• Use WPA2 encryption for your Wi-Fi
• Update your Wi-Fi password
• Disable remote access if you don‘t need it
• Enable automatic updates if your router supports them
• Configure any parental controls or additional firewall protection

Resetting is also a good time to assess what‘s connected to your network and remove any devices you no longer use or trust.

Other Router Maintenance Tips

While regular resets are a key part of router maintenance, there are some additional best practices that can help keep your router running smoothly and securely:

• Physically clean your router with compressed air to clear out dust and debris which can cause overheating
• Make sure your router is in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat sources
• Check for firmware updates monthly and install them as soon as possible
• Use a strong administrator password and change it periodically
• Reboot regularly between resets to clear memory and re-establish connections
• Replace your router every 4-5 years to keep up with security standards and increasing bandwidth demands
• Position your router centrally and high up to maximize coverage
• Use a VPN to encrypt traffic and prevent snooping on public Wi-Fi networks
• Monitor for suspicious activity and unknown devices on your network
• Educate family members on safe Wi-Fi and browsing practices

Conclusion

In today‘s hyper-connected homes, your router is truly the heart of your technical ecosystem. Adopting good security and maintenance habits like regular resets can go a long way in keeping your corner of the internet fast, stable and protected.

As a cyber security expert, I can‘t stress enough how important it is to be proactive when it comes to your networking hardware. Routers are often overlooked in the security equation, but they are just as vulnerable to attack and performance degradation as your computer or phone.

By resetting your router on a regular basis and following other best practices like strong passwords, encryption and regular updates, you can significantly reduce your risk and keep your digital life humming along smoothly.

Resets may be a slight inconvenience in the short-term, but the long-term benefits to your security, privacy and quality of life are well worth it. So don‘t neglect this critical piece of your home network infrastructure. Schedule those resets, stay vigilant and surf safe!