Solved PC experts warn against using your router's USB port


Borg 386

Borg 386

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The fact is that USB ports on routers aren't secure. Many of them operate on outdated protocols, creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited by bad actors. This doesn't mean the entire router is compromised, but the USB port can be a weak link. Using it is not a risk worth taking, especially when safer alternatives are available.
Click to expand...

www.zdnet.com

Don't rely on your router's USB port when these alternatives are less prone to security risks

Your router's USB port is convenient, but its unreliability makes it susceptible to security attacks. Here are your alternatives.
www.zdnet.com www.zdnet.com
 

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@Borg

Wow, what a great link! Not only was that a decent article about routers and security regarding USB port on a router, but the cell phone articles were FANTASTIC! 👏 👌 😀 👍

Maybe you'll agree with me?!
👍😉


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Borg 386 said:
www.zdnet.com

Don't rely on your router's USB port when these alternatives are less prone to security risks

Your router's USB port is convenient, but its unreliability makes it susceptible to security attacks. Here are your alternatives.
www.zdnet.com www.zdnet.com
Click to expand...
I have yet to find any ISP-supplied router with a USB port that uses anything higher than SMB 1.0 to share out a drive plugged into it. I had for years used such a router to share out a 2TB HDD on my network, reluctantly enabling 'SMB 1.0/CIFS Client' on my PCs so that they could access it. Amongst other uses, this network drive was used as the File History drive for my main machine.

Then I switched to another ISP to get fibre to the house. The new router did not offer USB sharing, so I had to sort out an alternative solution. Rather than purchasing a NAS, I dug out an old laptop that I'd stopped using because of a faulty screen. I clean installed Windows 11 on it and it now runs 24/7 as a file server, sharing out that 2TB HDD so that I can continue using it as before. With 3 USB ports available, I could now share out a couple more of my external drives. I can use Remote Desktop if I ever need to access that PC.

It has been such a relief to finally be able remove SMB1 from all my PCs :-)

1766073499547.webp
 

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Never used a router to expand storage, but one outstanding feature of my Asus routers is the ability to plug my phone into the USB port and provide Internet to the whole house when the wired broadband goes out. It's not just PCs and mobile devices, but all my IoT devices that need it.
 

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Bree said:
I have yet to find any ISP-supplied router with a USB port that uses anything higher than SMB 1.0 to share out a drive plugged into it.
Click to expand...
My FRITZbox 7590 AX has no SMB 1.0. And I can completely shut it off from the Internet (the default situation). As for WLAN, I only use the safest protocol with a very strong password. So I don't feel how I could get any harm from the dangers that are warned for in the linked article in the startpost.

The disadvantage of attaching an (SSD) USB drive onto the router and using it as NAS is that it is using SMB2.0 or higher, which is slower than NETBios, which seems to be used by the official stand-alone NAS systems. But it's a very simple way to get a (small) central server for all devices in the network. I use it for exchange between normal Windows and systems on VirtualBox as well.

So I don't feel adressed by that article.
 

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barreleye said:
Never used a router to expand storage, but one outstanding feature of my Asus routers is the ability to plug my phone into the USB port and provide Internet to the whole house when the wired broadband goes out. It's not just PCs and mobile devices, but all my IoT devices that need it.
Click to expand...

That is really cool. I may have to do the bell mod to my home system and get that with a cell booster. We have 840gb of fast data per month with our mobile plans and we do have many winter storms that knock out service. What model Asus router do you have?
 

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barreleye said:
RT-BE92U, but it also worked for my XT8 from 2021.
Click to expand...

@barreleye
@LASTBOOMER66
Who really takes any notice of these "Self styled experts". For example Gartner -- who I'm surprised are still in business - was the "De-facto" advisory company to loads of corporates on I.T management. security and direction - but if you did the EXACT OPPOSITE of what they advised you were likely to be more than 85% successfull on average.

If you really believe in a load of this B/S supplied by these so-call;ed experts -- here you are :

www.gartner.com

Gartner | Delivering Actionable, Objective Insight to Executives and Their Teams

Gartner provides actionable insights, guidance, and tools that enable faster, smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities.
www.gartner.com www.gartner.com

Cheers
jimbo
 

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