Interesting to see that D-Link are now putting in an extra layer of security on their routers, which now require users to complete a CAPTCHA test (you know, those “type in the letters you see in this box” type tests) whenever any settings are changed.
In the short term, this may well knock out Windows Home Server’s automatic configuration capabilities for D-Link’s routers, which will suck, but I’m sure it’s done with good intentions.
If you have a D-Link router and want to upgrade to the new level of security, you can do so at http://support.dlink.com – apparently, the DIR-615, DIR-625, DIR-628, DIR-655, DIR-825, DIR-855, DIR-685, and DGL-4500 are now supported.
If you’ve tried out D-Link’s new system with your home server, let us know how it works. For everyone else, here’s the announcement from D-Link.
D-LINK FIRST TO ADD CAPTCHA TO ITS HOME ROUTERS TO HELP PREVENT AGAINST ATTACKS
Additional Safety Measure Helps Defend Computers from Worms, Viruses and Other Growing Security Threats
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 12, 2009 – A series of recent Internet security attacks on home and small office computers are compromising networks where users least expect it – their routers. These malicious software invasions, in which users unknowingly download a Trojan horse when performing common tasks, invade the router to detect wireless capabilities, then alter the victim’s domain name system (DNS) records so that all future traffic is diverted through the, attackers’ network first.
In response to the growing number of these attacks and subsequent user security concerns, D-Link has integrated CAPTCHA – a system, designed to detect whether responses are human or computer-generated – into its popular home and small office routers as an extra safety measure. CAPTCHAs are used to prevent malicious software from performing actions that degrade the quality of service on a network, such as those found in worms, viruses and Trojan horses.
The term CAPTCHA is an acronym for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. CAPTCHA is a type of challenge-response test used in computing to ensure that responses are generated by humans, not computers. A common type of CAPTCHA requires the user to type letters or numbers from a distorted image that appears on the screen.
“Unlike other brands, the majority of D-Link® routers are not as easy to be compromised since our design is proprietary. However, we’re excited to be the first in the market to announce we have taken the initiative to implement CAPTCHA into our routers, thus providing yet another layer of security to our customers,” said AJ Wang, chief technology officer of D-Link.
Popular D-Link router models that now feature CAPTCHA include the DIR-615, DIR-625, DIR-628, DIR-655, DIR-825, DIR-855, DIR-685, and DGL-4500. To upgrade routers with CAPTCHA, customers need to visit support.dlink.com to download the upgrade.
