As the cost of living crisis continues, households are doing everything possible to save money, especially on energy bills. Switching devices off at the mains, such as TVs and games consoles, is a common way to cut back on power usage.
But shutting down your WiFi router at night could actually be doing more harm than good. It might seem like a smart idea to stop that little black box from flashing as you head to bed, there are certain things that go on throughout the night that make sure this vital device stays running in tip-top condition, reports the Mirror.
Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) push out updates when most people aren't using the web. Missing out on these software patches could put you at risk, as routers are left exposed to bugs and data-stealing malware. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Aman Bhatti, Director of Propositions at Sky Broadband said: "We know our routers are put through their paces during the day – whether on video calls, streaming the latest show, or online gaming.
That’s why our routers run firmware updates during the night, to avoid any unnecessary disruption during the day. Switching off your router overnight can affect automatic software updates and optimisations which in turn can impact the overall performance, speed and stability of your Broadband." So that's one reason to leave things on - but that's not the only problem users face.
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