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Usually, no—not reliably on the router itself. Antivirus can scan and sometimes remove malware from a supported computer or mobile device, but a router’s firmware, exposed services, configuration and network traffic sit outside the normal reach of an antivirus app. Smart devices vary: an antivirus product may inspect a supported operating system or app, while other devices require firmware, account and network checks.
If you suspect proxy malware, treat antivirus as one possible check rather than proof that your home network is clean. Verify firmware support, install security updates, disable unnecessary remote administration, replace end-of-life hardware and investigate unexplained traffic.
What proxy malware does
A residential proxy is an intermediary that makes internet requests appear to originate from another household connection. When a router, television, streaming box, camera or other connected device is compromised, an outside operator can route traffic through that device and its residential IP address. Websites and services may then associate activity with the subscriber even though the household did not initiate it.
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- Exploitation of vulnerable IoT firmware or exposed services.
- Default, reused or weak administrator credentials.
- Malware bundled with pirated or free content.
- Malicious or unofficial applications.
- Proxy software-development kits included in an otherwise legitimate app.
- VPN or bandwidth-sharing schemes whose terms enroll a device in traffic sharing that the user may not understand.
These cases are not equivalent. A vulnerability or backdoor is an unauthorized compromise; an app or service may obtain consent through terms that are technically disclosed but poorly understood. In both situations, unusual outbound traffic can be the visible result.
What antivirus can actually inspect
Antivirus works best where it can access the operating system, files, applications and running processes. The FBI’s consumer guidance says antivirus may be able to sanitize some internet-connected devices, but it describes that capability conditionally. Detection of a particular infection and successful removal are not guaranteed.
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| Device situation | What an antivirus scan can examine | What still needs a separate check |
|---|---|---|
| Supported computer or mobile device | Supported operating-system files, installed applications and other locations exposed to the security product | Whether the vendor’s recovery procedure requires an operating-system reinstall; account exposure and other devices on the network |
| Smart device with a supported operating system | Installed apps or files only if the device and security product permit that access | Firmware integrity, app-store or setup source, device support status and network behavior |
| Home router | Ordinary consumer antivirus running on a computer or phone does not thereby scan the router’s firmware | Router firmware, vulnerable services, open ports, remote-management settings, administrator credentials and outbound traffic |
The reviewed FBI and NIST guidance does not establish a consumer-antivirus product that reliably scans residential-router firmware. A clean scan on a laptop therefore cannot certify that the router or every connected device is clean.
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A router is both a computer and the traffic gateway for the household. Malware can alter firmware, exploit an exposed management service, change DNS or other settings, or run a proxy process without leaving a conventional malicious file for an antivirus app on another device to find. The router may continue forwarding traffic even when every endpoint scan reports no infection.
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The FBI’s router guidance focuses on the manufacturer’s security updates, strong administrator credentials, disabling remote management that is not needed, rebooting when suspicious activity is suspected and replacing hardware that has reached end of life. NIST’s September 2024 consumer-router cybersecurity profile likewise treats lifecycle support and secure configuration as central controls, rather than assuming an endpoint antivirus scan covers the gateway.
Signs that justify an investigation
No single symptom proves proxy malware. The FBI explicitly cautions that an indicator by itself cannot accurately determine malicious activity or a crime. Look for a pattern and record when it began.
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| Observation | Why it matters | Other possible explanations |
|---|---|---|
| Unexplained traffic or a major increase in data use or the internet bill | A proxy can generate sustained outbound requests through the household connection. | Cloud backups, operating-system updates, streaming, a new camera or another legitimate high-bandwidth device. |
| Unusual outbound DNS queries or destinations | Unexpected name lookups or connections can indicate a device contacting a control or proxy service. | Advertising, telemetry, content-delivery systems and misconfigured applications. |
| Slow household internet or devices that become slow or inoperable | Proxy activity and other malware can consume processing power or bandwidth. | ISP congestion, failing hardware, Wi-Fi interference or a software update. |
| Router overheating or repeated connectivity trouble | Persistent unauthorized processes can increase load. | Blocked ventilation, a failing power supply or normal environmental heat. |
| Administrator-unrecognized setting changes | Altered DNS, remote-management or firewall settings can redirect traffic or maintain access. | ISP provisioning, a firmware update or another household administrator. |
| Suspicious setup screens, preinstalled apps or an unexpected app-store source | The FBI’s BADBOX 2.0 notice identifies these as warning signs for potentially compromised smart devices. | Reseller modifications, regional software differences or a legitimate first-run update. |
Compare the router’s device list and data-use records with the household’s actual equipment. Preserve screenshots of changed settings and note the model, firmware version and dates before resetting anything.
Step-by-step response for a suspected router infection
- Identify the exact model. Record the manufacturer, model or hardware revision, current firmware and the device’s support page. A similar product name can represent a different revision with a different update path.
- Check support status and firmware. Install the latest security or firmware update supplied for that model. If the manufacturer no longer provides patches, treat the router as end of life; the FBI recommends replacing unsupported hardware with an updated model where possible.
- Disable unnecessary remote administration. Turn off internet-facing router management unless you have a specific need for it. If remote administration is required, restrict it to the narrowest supported access and monitor it.
- Change administrator credentials. Replace default or weak passwords and any password reused elsewhere. Do not reuse the old router password after remediation.
- Review configuration. Check DNS servers, port-forwarding rules, administrator accounts, firmware-update settings and connected-device lists for changes you did not make. Remove unrecognized entries only after recording them.
- Reboot after applying changes. The FBI includes rebooting among its responses when suspicious activity is suspected. A reboot can stop a running process temporarily, but it is not proof that firmware or persistence has been removed.
- Reassess traffic. Watch data use, DNS activity and connection performance after the update and credential change. Continued unexplained traffic is a reason to contact the manufacturer or ISP and to replace the router if support has ended.
What to do with smart TVs, cameras and other IoT devices
- Check the device and software source. Review installed apps, setup sources and account sessions. Remove software you do not recognize, and avoid unofficial app stores or sideloaded packages.
- Apply operating-system and firmware updates. Use the manufacturer’s current release for the exact model. If updates are no longer available, plan replacement rather than relying on an antivirus scan.
- Change device and account passwords. Use unique credentials, enable available multi-factor authentication and revoke sessions you do not recognize.
- Inspect network behavior. Look for unusual outbound DNS requests, destinations, data volume or connection times. A smart device that cannot expose logs may need to be isolated on a separate IoT network while you investigate.
- Reset only with a recovery plan. Follow the maker’s documented reset and re-enrollment process, then update firmware before restoring settings. A reset is not a guaranteed cure if malicious firmware or a vulnerable setup process remains.
When antivirus is useful on a computer or phone
If the suspected proxy component is on a supported computer or mobile device, run the security product’s full scan and follow its removal instructions. Check that the product supports the device’s operating system and can inspect the relevant files or apps. Keep the result in context: one clean scan does not clear a router, an unsupported IoT device or an account that may already have been exposed.
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The FBI warns that some products can arrive from the factory with malware, that uninstalling the initial app may not remove persistent malware and that malware can survive a factory reset. Depending on the device maker’s instructions, reinstalling the operating system may be necessary. Back up essential data carefully, obtain recovery media or images from the legitimate manufacturer and change important passwords from a known-clean device.
Factory reset, reboot or replacement?
- Reboot: useful as a short diagnostic or recovery step, but it does not establish that firmware has been cleaned.
- Factory reset: can remove ordinary settings and user data, yet the FBI warns that some malware may survive it. Do not restore suspicious apps or configurations automatically.
- Operating-system reinstall: may be required for persistent malware on a supported computer or mobile device; follow the device maker’s recovery guidance.
- Replacement: the practical answer for a router or smart device that is end of life and no longer receives security patches. Choose a currently supported model and update it before connecting other equipment.
How to reduce proxy-malware risk
- Install router, phone and IoT firmware updates promptly. The FBI described timely patching in a 2026 public-service announcement as one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to reduce exposure to cyber threats.
- Replace default credentials and never reuse administrator passwords.
- Disable router remote management and other internet-facing services you do not need.
- Use official app stores and scrutinize permissions, especially for apps offering free bandwidth, VPN access or device optimization.
- Read the terms of bandwidth-sharing or proxy features before enabling them; understand whether your connection and IP address will carry other users’ requests.
- Put IoT devices on a separate network or guest segment where the router supports isolation, limiting access to computers and accounts that contain sensitive data.
- Keep an inventory of device models, firmware versions and support end dates so an unsupported product is not forgotten.
What the current evidence does—and does not—show
The FBI’s 2025 BADBOX 2.0 advisory described a botnet of “millions of infected devices.” That is a campaign-specific description, not a measurement of the percentage of household routers or smart devices carrying proxy malware. The available official guidance also does not provide comparative antivirus detection rates or a product-by-product router scan test.
Consequently, the defensible conclusion is about capability and procedure, not a household infection statistic: antivirus can be a useful layer on supported endpoints, while router-level investigation depends on firmware support, configuration, credentials and traffic analysis. If account misuse may have occurred, contact the affected account providers, change passwords from a known-clean device, place alerts on important accounts and report suspected internet crime to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Quick Recap
A practical decision framework
| Situation | First action | Escalation |
|---|---|---|
| Supported computer or phone shows suspicious files or behavior | Run a supported antivirus scan and follow the device maker’s removal guidance. | Reinstall the operating system if the maker says the infection may persist; secure exposed accounts. |
| Router has unusual settings, traffic or overheating | Check firmware, disable unneeded remote management, change credentials and reboot. | Contact the manufacturer or ISP; replace the router if it is unsupported or symptoms continue. |
| Smart device has an unofficial app, suspicious setup or unexplained traffic | Review software sources, update firmware and isolate the device. | Use the maker’s recovery process or replace the device when patches are unavailable. |
| Only a single antivirus scan is clean | Treat that result as evidence about the scanned endpoint only. | Continue router, IoT, account and network checks separately. |
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