Are you still using a router that is before its head? If yes, you can open yourself for a malicious attack. The FBI is warning that cyber criminals are targeting routers who have reached the end of their lives and are no longer supported by the manufacturer.
In a consultant And A PSA Published last week, the agency said that the attackers are deploying malware against several old routers. Usually dated 2010 or earlier, these routers have already reached the end of life, which means that the manufacturer no longer sells or supports them. This means that they no longer get software updates or safety patch, leaving them insecure to compromise.
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Due to lack of manufacturer’s support, cyber criminals have enabled them to take advantage of security weaknesses in the router and control them through the underlying distance administration. They then install malware and force the equipment to join the botnet. From there, they can manipulate all compromised equipment to launch coordinated attacks or sell other criminals to them.
Even if the remote administration password is preserved, attackers can bypass security and get remote command-line access to routers. It is known as hai mumon due to stress of malware.
The FBI said, “Themoon Malware was first discovered on a compromised router in 2014 and has since gone through several campaigns.” “Themoon does not require a password to infect the router; it scans for open ports and sends a command to a weak script. Maps and control (C2) contacts the server, and reacts with the C2 server instructions, which involves directing the infected machine to scan and expand the network to scan for another weak router.”
The FBI described the following 13 routers as sensitive to malware:
Your router should display your model number behind or below the unit. So, what do you do if your router is in the list or you are worried about your old device being unsafe?
The first and most obvious answer is to dump it and buy a new router. A decent router can be found under $ 100, although the price of more competent and advanced will be double or triple. Whatever your budget, you do not want to risk someone hacking and installing malware in your router.
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Meanwhile, you can take other measures. If the safety patch is still available, download and install the latest. Next, log into the router firmware and disable the remote administration feature. Save your changes and then restart the router. Finally, switch your router password on something strong and more secure.
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