Two Phones Factory Reset Themselves After Connecting to Our Wi-Fi

Title: Unexplained Factory Resets on Mobile Devices Following Wi-Fi Connection: An Emerging Cybersecurity Concern

In recent days, a perplexing incident has raised significant alarms within our household network security. Two mobile devices—belonging to different users and manufacturers—unexpectedly initiated factory resets immediately after connecting to our Wi-Fi network. This phenomenon occurred without any prior warning, prompts, or user interaction, prompting urgent questions about potential vulnerabilities in our environment.

Overview of the Incident

The first device involved was a Samsung Galaxy A16 5G (model SM-A166P/DS). Originally functioning normally, it experienced an abrupt restart and subsequent factory reset shortly after a brief session of browsing and app management. Approximately thirty minutes later, a second device—a Huawei P10 (VTR-L29)—connected to our 5GHz Wi-Fi network and exhibited the same behavior: an automatic reboot followed by a complete reset to factory settings.

Critical Observation Points

• Both devices are from different manufacturers—Samsung and Huawei—indicating that this behavior may not be device-specific.
• The resets occurred immediately or within minutes of establishing a network connection.
• The problematic devices were connected solely to our same Wi-Fi network, with no apparent malware or prior malfunctions evident.
• The home router had no recent configuration changes before the incident.
• Notably, a laptop connected to the same network remained unaffected, demonstrating no signs of instability or abnormal behavior.

Key Questions for Investigation

These unusual events raise pressing concerns about the integrity of our network. To better understand and mitigate this risk, we seek insights into the following questions:

1. Could our Wi-Fi router be compromised or possess malicious firmware capable of triggering such device behavior?
2. Is there a known vulnerability where a Wi-Fi network connection can prompt a device to reset to factory settings?
3. Are there documented instances of similar incidents, and what are the potential causes?
4. Should we consider temporarily disconnecting or isolating other devices on the network as a precaution?

Implications and Next Steps

While preliminary assessments suggest this may be an isolated occurrence, the possibility of a security breach or malicious exploitation cannot be dismissed. It is crucial to:

• Examine the router’s firmware for integrity or malicious modifications.
• Update the router’s firmware to the latest version, ensuring it is from a reputable source.
• Conduct malware scans on all connected devices.
• Change all network credentials and consider implementing advanced security measures, such as WPA3 encryption and network segmentation.
• Monitor