How To Reset Your Router

Before resetting your router to default factory settings, try logging in with the default username and password first.
Usually it’s a combination between “admin”, “password”, “1234″, or the brand name. If you don’t want to waste your time in trying the combination, you can refer to RouterPasswords or Phenoelit for default router password list database. If the default router’s username and password still don’t work, then go ahead to perform a hard reset for the router. Please be informed that hard resetting your router to default factory setting will remove all configuration on that router which includes port forwarding, wireless settings, connection settings and etc… Try to write down what you remember so you can immediately configure the router back when you’re able to get in. Every router should have a small hole at the back where you can use a pin to insert it in to reset the router to factory settings. Just press and hold the reset switch for 30 seconds.



Once your router has been reset, login with the router’s default login information which can be found in the router’s manual, Phenoelit or RouterPassword website. For security purposes, always change your default router password and also disable remote management if not using it. If you need to use remote router management, do not use port 80 or 23. Use some other uncommon ports such as 4781 or 917. I can easily hack in a few routers a day just by using a port scanner. I just scan a range of IP address for port 23 or 80. Some routers will display information when I use telnet to connect. As you can see at the image below, it shows “BCM96358 ADSL Router” when I connect using telnet. A simple google search will tell me that it’s a Belkin router.



If I did not change my router’s password, anyone can use the default password “password” to login to my router!