Sky issues urgent Wi-Fi warning to loyal subscribers: Change the password on your router NOW

ISPs roll-out regular software upgrades to fix bugs and keep routers running smoothly. But this can no longer happen with this particular generation of older Wi-Fi routers from NOW.

In an email sent to NOW Broadband subscribers impacted by the changes, the firm states: "Please note, your Hub is no longer receiving security and service updates, or will stop receiving security updates by 2025.

"However, your Hub will continue to work as normal and will keep you connected to the internet.

"We recommend, as a minimum, changing your Hub admin password to reduce the risk of security threats. This won’t change your WiFi password, just the password used to check your Hub details […] From July 31st 2025, should your Hub develop a fault, we unfortunately won’t be able to provide a replacement.

"If this happens, don’t worry, you’ll be able to end your service immediately without any termination fees."

This simple step should help protect those with a vulnerable Wi-Fi network from potential intruders. However, experts note that changing the admin password alone isn't a complete solution for all network and internet security threats.

Your router is the gateway to all of the devices connected to that wireless network, from smartphones and laptops to Smart TVs and video doorbells. If hackers gain access to your router, they can potentially target anything connected to it.

If your ageing Wi-Fi router breaks, NOW Broadband won't send out a replacement. Instead, the brand will suggest switching to the latest full-fibre deals from parent company Sky TV. Or leaving the company completely and switching to a new ISP.

Compared to the latest kit sent-out by NOW Broadband, Sky offers a fully-featured Wi-Fi router with more modern features. It supports faster Wi-Fi 6 wireless speeds, WPA3 security and eight internal antennas for widespread coverage throughout the home.

Compared to rivals: BT and Plusnet still offer Wi-Fi 5 routers, while EE is the only nationwide provider to offer Wi-Fi 7 on its fastest plans, and TalkTalk offers support for Wi-Fi 6 via Amazon's Eero mesh routers.

The shake-up from NOW Broadband comes after a new law passed by the UK Government that forces all Internet Service Providers, or ISPs, to protect their customers from hackers and cybercriminals.

From April 2025 onwards, manufacturers are now legally required to protect consumers from hackers and cyber criminals from accessing devices with internet or network connectivity — from phones to game consoles and connected fridges — as the UK becomes the first country on the planet to introduce these laws. Not only that, but the legislation also mandates that companies must be "open with consumers on the minimum time they can expect to receive important security updates" for connected devices.

Under the new regime, manufacturers will be banned from having weak, easily guessable default passwords like ‘admin’ or ‘12345’ and if there is a common password the user will be prompted to change it on start-up.

According to the UK Government, this will help prevent threats like the damaging Mirai attack in 2016 which saw 300,000 smart products compromised due to weak security features and used to attack major internet platforms and services, leaving much of the US East Coast without internet. Since then, similar attacks have occurred on UK banks including Lloyds and RBS leading to disruption to customers.

Virgin Media has already started to upgrade full-fibre broadband subscribers with its oldest Wi-Fi routers as these models can no longer be updated with the latest security patches. For NOW Broadband, it marks the end-of-the-road for some of its devices.

NOW started to promote its broadband packages as "NOW Powered by Sky" last year. At the time, it was seen as a signal that NOW Broadband would be rolled back as an independent internet supplier to focus on its television, movies, and sport packages. The latest change — with no NOW Broadband Wi-Fi hardware on the horizon — does little to disuade this impression.

Speaking at the time the UK legislation was announced, then Data and Digital Infrastructure Minister, Julia Lopez said: "Today marks a new era where consumers can have greater confidence that their smart devices, such as phones and broadband routers, are shielded from cyber threats, and the integrity of personal privacy, data and finances better protected. Our pledge to establish the UK as the global standard for online safety takes a big step forward with these regulations, moving us closer to our goal of a digitally secure future."

According to the UK Government, this new regime intends to increase consumer confidence in the security of the products they buy and use, delivering on one of the government’s five priorities to grow the economy. The new laws will be included as part of Downing Street's £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy to protect and promote the UK online.

Last year, Sky offered customers with the Sky Hub 3 or earlier models a chance to claim a free replacement.

If you're stuck with an older NOW Broadband Wi-Fi router that's no longer supported, you can change the password — as recommended by the company — and wait until a more serious fault develops. However, switching to a new broadband with Sky Broadband, or another supplier, will likely result in faster speeds, more affordable monthly bills, or if you're lucky — both.

What it's guaranteed to bring you is a brand-new Wi-Fi router with years of support for the latest security patches. According to data published by Ofcom, some 7.4 million UK households are currently out of contract and could switch to a new subscription with no repercussions. Broadband providers regularly save their best deals for new subscribers, with loyalty rarely rewarded.

EE has unleashed one of the most enticing new offers to attract switchers. For a limited time, switch to EE and your broadband bills will be slashed to £0 for the first three months of your new contract. Yes, really.

That means you'll pay nothing for internet until July or August at the earliest.

EE isn't offering free broadband across all of its plans, with only a select few full-fibre packages eligible for the giveaway. Full Fibre 300 package, which offers average download speeds of 308Mbps, is one of these.

EE Full Fibre 300 includes a guaranteed minimum speed of 150Mbps and no upfront cost. At the end of the three months of £0, EE will charge £36.99 a month for these speeds.

That cost rises to £39.99 in March 2026, following the latest Ofcom rules that requires broadband brands to spell out price rises "in pounds and pence".

Plusnet has slashed the price of its fastest full-fibre broadband plan to just £36.99 a month.

For that, you'll benefit from eye-watering download speeds of 900Mbps. For context, that's over 11x faster than the average home internet speed as measured in the UK earlier this year — so you'll have no problem downloading large files, streaming movies in the highest quality, or making stutter-free video calls at peak times.

The price of this broadband plan mirrors exactly the Full Fibre 300 package from EE, with the annual price hike bringing the monthly cost to £39.99 a month from March 2026 onwards. Like the latest broadband deals from EE, there's no upfront cost either.

While Plusnet isn't waiving the monthly cost of your broadband for the first three months of your contract, new subscribers will benefit from a £100 Reward Card sent to them in the post.

This takes the form of a pre-paid Mastercard debit card which can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard... which is pretty much everywhere.

You can use the pre-paid card to treat yourself to a new gadget, put it towards a holiday, or even use the £100 in credit to pay the first three months of your new Plusnet broadband deal. That means you'll unlock the same perk as EE is offering — but with 3x faster download speeds.

Both EE and Plusnet leverage Openreach's nationwide network of full-fibre cables.