OpenWrt Essential Security Settings: A Complete Guide to Building a Secure Smart Home Network

D: 🔒 Why Secure Your OpenWrt Router?
Your router is the gateway to your smart home—controlling everything from smart lights 🏠💡 to security cameras 📹. OpenWrt offers powerful customization, but without proper security, it can become a hacker’s playground. Let’s lock it down!

🛡️ Step 1: Change Default Credentials

🚫 Never keep factory defaults!

• Username: Replace root with a unique name.
• Password: Use a 12+ character mix (e.g., Tr0ub4d0ur&3).
• Pro Tip: Enable SSH keys for admin access (more secure than passwords).

🔐 Step 2: Enable Firewall & Disable WAN Access

Firewall Rules:

1. Block inbound WAN requests:

   uci set firewall.@rule[0].enabled='0'  # Disable IPv4 WAN access
   uci commit firewall

2. Allow only essential ports (e.g., 443 for HTTPS).

🌐 Smart Home Tip: Isolate IoT devices in a separate VLAN to limit breach risks!

🔑 Step 3: Update OpenWrt Regularly

• Stable vs. Snapshot: Use stable builds for reliability.
• Auto-update:

  opkg update && opkg list-upgradable | cut -f 1 -d ' ' | xargs opkg upgrade

  (Schedule monthly updates via cron!)

📶 Step 4: Secure Wi-Fi

• Encryption: WPA3 (or WPA2 + AES if unsupported).
• Hide SSID: Disable broadcast (but note: it’s not foolproof).
• MAC Filtering: Whitelist trusted devices.

Example:

uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].encryption='sae-mixed'  # WPA3
uci commit wireless

🚫 Step 5: Disable Unused Services

• Telnet, HTTP, UPnP: Turn OFF (use HTTPS/SSH only).
• LUCI (Web UI): Restrict to LAN access:

  uci set uhttpd.main.listen_http='192.168.1.1:80'
  uci commit uhttpd

🕵️ Step 6: Monitor & Log Activity

• Install logread:

  opkg install logread

• Check for intrusions:

  logread | grep "failed login"

🏆 Bonus: Advanced Hardening

• Fail2Ban: Block brute-force attacks.
• DNS Encryption: Use stubby or dnscrypt-proxy.
• VPN: Route all traffic through WireGuard for privacy.

🎯 Final Thought
A secure OpenWrt router = Happy smart home! 🏠🔐 Regularly audit settings and stay paranoid—your devices will thank you.

Need help? Comment below! 👇💬

(Written with OpenWrt 22.03.5. Last updated: Oct 2023.)