Why is it recommended to unplug your router before leaving for a vacation?

The New Year holidays are a favorite time for cybercriminals. While you are away enjoying your vacation, they actively look for vulnerabilities in unattended home networks. Experts from the cybersecurity company Solar, speaking to Gazeta.Ru, have reminded travelers of simple but critically important cybersecurity rules. One of the most underestimated measures is unplugging your home router from the power outlet.

The Router as an Open Door to Your Home

Many people leave for vacation while keeping their router turned on. According to experts, this is a serious mistake. A powered-on router gives attackers continuous access to your home network. By exploiting firmware vulnerabilities or weak passwords, they can intercept traffic, install malware, or even use your router to attack other networks, which can ultimately cause problems for you as the device owner.

Unplugging the router from the socket completely breaks this chain. No power means no network and no risk. It takes only a second, yet protects everything stored on your home devices, from a smart refrigerator to network-attached storage.

Other Simple Rules That Can Save Your Vacation

In addition to unplugging the router, experts highlighted several other habits that differ noticeably between people traveling within Russia and those going abroad.

Strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) are the foundation of security. These measures are used more often within Russia: 65 percent enable 2FA compared to 58 percent of those traveling abroad. Antivirus software on all devices is also more common among domestic travelers.

Public Wi-Fi is a separate issue. About 80 percent of travelers connect to it, but this happens more often abroad, 37 percent versus 26 percent within Russia. Caution is well justified here: no banking operations or online purchases should be performed on open networks.

Backing up data before a trip remains a rare practice, even though it is precisely what can save photos, documents, and contacts in case a device is stolen or damaged.

In Brief

Before leaving home, be sure to unplug your router from the power outlet. This simple step closes one of the main doors hackers use to gain access. Add strong passwords, 2FA, up-to-date antivirus software, and caution when using public Wi-Fi, and your vacation is far more likely to pass without unpleasant surprises.