AI Summary

A router can keep connecting devices as long as its hardware remains functional, even after the manufacturer stops issuing firmware updates. There is no built‑in kill switch that will permanently disable the device, aside from eventual hardware failure. However, without ongoing updates the router loses its primary means of patching newly discovered security flaws, leaving it increasingly vulnerable over time. Attackers may exploit such unpatched routers in bulk, using them to relay malicious traffic or to join networks of compromised devices without the owner’s knowledge.

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