I’ve been using my home “Wi-Fi router” for “about 10 years” is pretty bad.

It’s working just fine, but…

Wi-Fi routers have a life span. However, not many people may consider replacing their router unless something goes wrong, such as it not turning on.

What problems can occur if you continue to use an old router? We asked IT journalist Shuji Shinohara what to look for when choosing a new router.

Wi-Fi routers are said to have three life spans: the main unit, communication standards, and security. First, let’s look at the life of the router itself, the hardware.

Routers are precision instruments. As you continue to use it, damage from heat and dust accumulates, and the internal components deteriorate. Manufacturers make their products in such a way that they do not break down, and some of them last for more than 10 years, but the life of the main unit is usually more than five years, but less than 10 years,” he said.

The main unit lasts surprisingly long. When the life of the main unit is near the end, defects will occur, so it is easy to know when to replace it. On the other hand, if there are no problems, people tend to continue using the device as it is. However, “communication standards” and “security” may be reaching the end of their useful lives.

Since the first generation of Wi-Fi router communication standards appeared in 1997, communication speed has improved with each successive generation. Currently, the latest standard is Wi-Fi7, the seventh generation, although Wi-Fi6 is still the most common Wi-Fi router standard on the market at this time.

The most popular Wi-Fi 6 was introduced in 2007, while the previous generation, Wi-Fi 5, was introduced in 2001. The speeds are 6.9 Gbps for Wi-Fi5 and 9.6 Gbps for Wi-Fi6; both are fast.’ Wi-Fi4, released in ’09, is 600 Mbps; it’s 0.6 Gbps, so the speeds are very different. Those who are using Wi-Fi4-compatible routers now probably feel that they are slow.

Since Wi-Fi4, communication standards have been updated every five years. It is possible to say that the life of an old standard ends when a new standard is introduced and a router that supports it becomes widely available, but I doubt it. For example, if your current router is Wi-Fi 5-compatible and you are not particularly inconvenienced by the communication speed, there is no need to rush to replace it with a Wi-Fi 6 router.

By the way, the devices that support Wi-Fi7 are currently only the latest models of a limited number of smartphones, such as the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9. If you are using a smartphone other than those, there is no point in switching to a Wi-Fi-7 compatible router.”

Continued use after support ends may lead to “hijacking” risk

Four domestic Wi-Fi router manufacturers, I-O Data Device, NEC Platforms, Elecom, and Buffalo, are members of the Digital Life Promotion Association (DLPA), and DLPA-recommended Wi-Fi routers are equipped with security measures from the time of shipment. However, the security support period seems to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The hardware warranty period for routers is usually one to three years, but the security support period is longer than that; NEC’s Aterm router has a seven-year warranty. I-O Data and Buffalo do not seem to state their support periods. Elecom ended support after three and a half years, causing some consternation.

Firmware (software) updates are basically not available for products whose support has ended. Even if a security flaw is found, it will not be corrected, so it is dangerous to continue using the product as it is. It is better to regard it as the end of its life and replace it with a new one.

It is easy to imagine the risks involved in continuing to use a PC after support ends, but what risks are routers exposed to?

“A malicious hacker could exploit the vulnerability and hijack the router’s administrative privileges. What happens if it is hijacked? For example, a hacker could direct you to a fake website via your home router and steal your login information.

Here is a case in point.

In the fall of 2010, an investigation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department revealed that the home router of a man in his 30s living in Tokyo was the source of a cyber attack on a major Tokyo company. It was eventually discovered that the attacker had gained unauthorized access to the man’s router in some way, and the Metropolitan Police Department reportedly concluded that the router at the man’s home was most likely misused in the cyber attack against the large company.

The police concluded that the router at the man’s home was likely used in a cyber-attack against a large company.

If you are victimized, no one will compensate you,” he said. That’s why users have to update their firmware regularly.

Almost all entry-level Wi-Fi6-compatible routers released after 2009 should have an automatic firmware update function.

Many Wi-Fi5-compatible routers will have models that require manual updating on a regular basis. It is a good idea to check the manufacturer’s website to see if it supports automatic updates.”

Recommendation: “(1) Wi-Fi6 compatible, (2) capable of connecting 30 to 40 devices simultaneously, and (3) priced around 10,000 yen.

Even if you are not experiencing any inconvenience or problems at this point, you may want to consider replacing a Wi-Fi router that is nearing the end of its useful life. So, what are the key points to check when selecting a product?

The Wi-Fi routers currently sold at electronics retailers and e-commerce sites come in four communication standards: Wi-Fi5, Wi-Fi6, Wi-Fi6E, and Wi-Fi7. If you have to choose now, I recommend a Wi-Fi 6 router, because devices supporting 6 are the most widely used.

Wi-Fi7 is the newest standard, which was released last year, so it is more expensive. It is also still limited in the number of devices that support it.

While Wi-Fi7 has the advantage of high-speed communication, Wi-Fi6 is sufficient for watching Netflix. Even the recently released game “Monster Hunter Wilds” can be downloaded in about 10 minutes on Wi-Fi6 if the line is not busy, according to our calculations.

Nowadays, individuals or families often use multiple devices such as PCs, smartphones, and tablets, and IoT appliances are also increasing. The number of devices and the number of people using them is another key factor in selecting a router, he said.

Each router has a fixed number of devices that can be connected at the same time. For example, if four family members each use a smartphone or computer to watch YouTube videos or play games, and a printer, TV, refrigerator, etc. are also connected to the Wi-Fi network, the limit will be exceeded and communication may become unstable or slow.

If you expect to connect more devices and IoT appliances in the future, it would be better to choose a model that has a sufficient number of devices that can be connected.

So, what kind of Wi-Fi router does Mr. Shinohara recommend for a family of four living in an apartment?

He recommends buying a Wi-Fi router that supports Wi-Fi 6, can connect 30 to 40 devices at the same time, and costs around 10,000 yen. A domestic manufacturer’s product will give you more peace of mind when you need support.

I use a Buffalo router, but I recommend NEC’s Aterm for its high stability.”

Shuji Shinohara is an IT freelance writer. He specializes in verifying inflammatory incidents and hoaxes mainly on the Internet.