How to change router master passwords

[Tingo]

My son found out the router master password was posted at the bottom the router. Whenever I set up time limit, user password... that he doesn't like, he simply pressed reset the modem to factory reset, and used the factory set password. What is the procedure to have this password changed or have my router replaced ??  Who I should contact and what is the phone number??

[tns2]

Nothing will stop a reset.  But obliviously change your SSID and password and you will Know if the SSID goes back to the default.

Time to think of family discipline if this then continues.

[Tingo]

Thanks for your ewsponse. My son is 17 YO ,traditional disciplines no longer work. I wonder whether Verizon can exchange the router (which I will make sure the master password hidden) or can change the master password. I only want to make sure my son will not spend all night surfing the net.

[JOSEm441 · Accepted solution]

I think the only way to do it is get hold of a new router (see private message) set it up and remove the sticker with the password

[smith6612]

Lock up the router in a box and hide the key. Simple as that 🙂

Even removing the sticker won't help. He can still log in using admin/password and change the password if he is fast enough after a reset.

[Tingo]

Thank you for your suggestion. I am concern whether the enclosure will effect the signal strenght ??

[dslr595148]

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@Tingo wrote:

I am concern whether the enclosure will effect the signal strenght ??

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I point you to http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-Internet/Why-your-Wi-Fi-is-slow/td-p/534451

[Tingo]

Thanks to all of you who made suggestions. These are sequence of my solutions:

1. Talk to a local Verizon agent to see whether he accepts an exchange. If he does, great. I will make sure I peel the sticker even before installing the router. I don’t think a 17 YO kid persistent enough to overcome a password problem. (Just a thought, why Actiontec bothers to create a parent control page when they post the master password right at the machine?)
2. If Verizon refuses to replace it, I will put it into an enclosure with two antennas outside extended using antenna cables.
3. Wait until my contract in March and switch to another ISP. Make sure the master password well hidden this time

Thanks again.

[smith6612]

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@Tingo wrote:

Wait until my contract in March and switch to another ISP. Make sure the master password well hidden this time

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For this note, I'd say your next course of action should be to actually try a third party router. You don't have to use the ActionTec in order to use FiOS service, but the ActionTec is required somewhere in the mix if you have TV Service. Otherwise, you'll need to get a NIM100 MoCa Adapter to give the Set Top Boxes service. Verizon may or may not be able to supply these to you. In the past they did back before the ActionTec routers were in use.

In the case of the router I use, it's an ActionTec MI424WR Rev D. I'm a DSL user however, so the Rev. D was retired by a FiOS user who got a newer router after moving homes. I loaded DD-WRT (3rd party firmware) onto the router, and there is actually  an option from within DD-WRT to disable the reset button on the router. That way, the router cannot be factory reset unless you specifically know how to log into the router. The only way to bypass that, is to get into the router's boot loader which requires a good deal of computer knowledge, and can also be locked down.

So you may want to really consider the third party router (with third party firmware loaded, like DD-WRT, Tomato, etc) + MoCA adapter route. I'd stick with FiOS since other providers' supplied units have usernames and passwords that can be easily guessed or Googled. Some providers lock out the Web Interface, meaning you have no control of your own network. Their routers also include Reset buttons too, so it wouldn't be very hard to get into them if he knows to press the button.

[Tingo]

Surprise, you have opened a new horizon for me. I always thought that the current router (Actiontec MI424WR Rev I) is the only choice I can use. In fact, the Actiontec is the one that my son is using for wireless, while I use Linksys E2000 for my laptop (signal is too week where I locate). Therefore, when he reset the router and simply login using the Master password, (hence erased the SSID and Password), I usually not aware until days later. Can you list what is compatible with the above model (or educate me where I can find them ) and whether any special instructions I need to prepare. Thanks