Broadcom Wi‑Fi bug can knock 5GHz networks offline — ASUS ships a fix as NETGEAR posts new January alerts
A newly disclosed Broadcom Wi‑Fi chipset software flaw can let a nearby attacker disrupt a router’s 5GHz network with a single specially crafted Wi‑Fi frame, instantly dropping active clients and preventing them from reconnecting. Broadcom told researchers it has shipped a patch to device manufacturers, and ASUS has released firmware updates for affected products. This matters because it’s a “within radio range” problem, not an internet-wide hack—meaning it’s the kind of thing that can hit apartments, offices, conference centers, and anywhere else people rely on always-on wireless.