#An eero router inside its new update#
If no update has been available for months, or even years, the router is probably no longer being supported. You’d then click “check for updates” or something similar to see when the last update took place.
![an eero router inside its new an eero router inside its new](https://www.mbreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/eero-2nd-gen-small.jpg)
The exact address varies by model but is often indicated directly on the router itself. (The name of the menu or setting will vary by brand.) You can also look at your router’s web app, which is accessed by typing an IP address-often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1-into your web browser. The easiest method is to use the router’s mobile app, which typically has an option to manually check for updates. You can also look yourself to see when the last time your router firmware was updated. That model is still supported, though the company wouldn't say for how long. Google so far has three routers, the oldest dating back to 2016. In tech jargon, this is an “end of life” list, and any router that appears on it should be replaced.Īsus, D-Link, Netgear, Synology, and TP-Link all have router end-of-life lists, while Eero says it still supports its first-gen mesh routers. If you’re lucky, your router’s manufacturer keeps an updated list of devices it no longer actively supports.
![an eero router inside its new an eero router inside its new](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EJ4AAOSw2fZf6jZg/s-l400.jpg)
The tricky part here is determining whether and when your router has stopped receiving firmware updates. Without these regular updates, the odds increase that your data could end up in the wrong hands or that your router (or the devices on your network) could end up in a botnet, an army of “zombie” devices under the control of hackers, and used for crimes. More important, firmware updates often include security patches that help keep you and your data safe from hackers.