With that said, I am not suggesting that you give up, if you have a rather inexpensive router at home to play around with, it can be a fun project, and learning experience, so don’t be scared to try. There is also always the risk of damaging the router in an irreversible manner, especially if you don’t follow the steps correctly.
Flashing firmware or installing different software to run your router is usually against the manufacturer’s terms of service, and will automatically void any support/warranty on the hardware. But there are some very important things to know before you even start. Many people don’t feel tech-savvy enough to start tinkering and flashing firmware, but all popular options have rich step by step tutorial guides and compatibility lists to facilitate the process.
There’s always new developments and updates that provide more options to consumers, so in order to help you choose the right option, let’s have a look at the most current firmware developments, as well as pre-configured options available for those who feel way over their heads when it comes to flashing their own routers. There are way too many features and capabilities gained to list them all, but the main ones range from bandwidth monitoring, advanced QoS, Wi-Fi power and performance boost, and built-in OpenVPN clients.īut installing different firmware on your router, referred to as ‘flashing firmware’ is not always easily done, and picking the right firmware for your needs, router and budget should all be assessed first. These alternatives can instantly improve performance, and unlock a multitude of features previously unavailable, instantly turning your cheap router into a powerhouse. The way to drastically improve your router, is by installing one of the third-party open source firmware options available. The list goes on, and this is where open-source firmware shines. Even Juniper has admitted having a backdoor vulnerability in their firewalls for years. In 2014, a security flaw in ASUS models allowed attackers to access the devices from anywhere online, while more recently, the Wi-Fi security was also compromised. Additionally, it can be argued that there is no such thing as secure firmware from any network router maker.
Very importantly, routers lack the possibility of using OpenVPN protocols, in order to setup VPN server or client services directly from the network router. Lede or Gargoyle) developed for popular home routers, such as D-Link, Linksys, Netgear and even ASUS, often left much to desire.įrom buggy features, limited options, and even slow performance, the downsides are varied from one model to another. For many years, there were lots of custom firmware (e.g. However, when compared to consumer grade routers, the difference is astonishingly disappointing. The only trouble is the high cost attached to them, some going as high as thousands of dollars, and that’s to be expected for corporate grade security firewalls and all. High performing routers have several perks and configuration options often left out from standard consumer grade models.