Khaberni - The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned millions of users worldwide after detecting cyber attacks that target home routers and transform them into tools used in fraud and hacking operations without the owners' knowledge.
According to the warning, the hackers rely on malicious software known as AVrecon, which targets old devices that no longer receive security updates. Subsequently, access to these devices is sold through residential proxy services such as SocksEscort, and this vulnerability has been exploited hundreds of thousands of times.
How do you know if your device is hacked?
Despite the difficulty of detecting hacks, the FBI provided a set of signs and procedures that may help users:
- Check the model of the router, especially if it is old and does not receive updates.
- Notice slow Internet or unusual activity on the network.
- Monitor unusual data consumption.
- Observe strange devices connected to the network.
Steps for protection
The "FBI" emphasized the importance of taking preventative measures, notably:
- Regularly update the system and firmware.
- Activate advanced security settings.
- Regularly reboot the router (as a temporary solution only).
- Perform a factory reset if hacking is suspected.
- Replace old devices with modern ones that support security updates.
Routers more prone to attacks
The warning specified that old devices from companies such as "D-Link," "Netgear," "TP-Link," and "Zyxel" are most vulnerable to hacking, due to the cessation of security support.
The danger lies in that these hacked devices are subsequently used to commit digital crimes, such as advertising fraud, website hacking, password theft, and banking fraud, which could expose users to legal action or financial losses without their knowledge.
