If you have an old modem or router because you don’t need it anymore, You might be interested in selling it or giving it to someone else, or maybe just recycling it.
In general, your old device is unlikely to reveal information about you, but in any case it’s always a good idea to restart it before shipping.
There are many types of routers and modems, varying in complexity and capacity: simple routers that connect to an external modem, routers with built-in ADSL or fiber modems, and routers that include built-in 4G or 5G connectivity.
Although the router is designed to direct Internet traffic to your devices, this data does not remain on the router. Internet traffic is not stored on the router and it is very rare for a home router to handle all connections.
A router is designed to store only the settings you can change, including your ISP’s login information, your WiFi network name and password, and the rules you’ve set up, such as which DNS server to use or which ports to open. .
If you sell your router without changing anything, this information is unlikely to be useful to anyone who keeps it, but it’s always a good idea to restart it.
How to reset your router or modem
Your device must have a hole on the back that you can press and hold to reset to factory settings.
Take the router, plug it in, and wait a minute or two for it to boot up. Next, you will need to use a small, thin object, such as a paper clip or a SAM card skewer, to insert it into the hole and press the button into the hole.
The exact steps may vary depending on the brand, but here are some examples:
- netgear: Press and hold the reset button for about 7 seconds.
- Linksys: Press and hold the reset button for 10-15 seconds.
- D-Link: Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.
- TP Link: Press and hold the WPS / RESET button until the SYS LED flashes quickly (more than 10 seconds).
- Cisco: Press and hold the reset button while turning on the router and release it after 10 seconds.
If you are unsure whether the router has restarted, you can check it yourself by connecting to it and checking in the admin panel for any configuration changes you have made.