FBI recommends rebooting your router to disable possible Russian malware
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If you have a home or small business router that allows you to run phones, tablets and other devices over a Wi-Fi network, there is an important message you need to know about that was disseminated by the FBI. The G-men suggest that everyone with such a router reboot the device. Why? Because of the actions of what it characterizes as "foreign cyber actors" who have infiltrated personal and small business routers.
Last week, the U.S. Justice Department said that hundreds of thousands of routers have already been infected with malware by the Sofacy Group. The latter is a Russian intelligence team that American and European intelligence agencies say is responsible for the hacking of the Democratic National Committee prior to the 2016 elections. An analysis by Cisco's Talos cyber-threat intelligence team, reports that 500,000 routers in at least 54 countries have been infected by this malware, which is known as VPNFilter. Talos calls this a very serious threat.
"The malware has a destructive capability that can render an infected device unusable, which can be triggered on individual victim machines or en masse, and has the potential of cutting off internet access for hundreds of thousands of victims worldwide."-Talos
The FBI says that rebooting a server will temporarily disable any malware planted in the device. The law enforcement agency also recommends that users install new firmware and choose a new secure password.
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