FBI Warns Russian Hackers Threats Through 'Compromising' Routers

The FBI warned of Russian hackers attacking routers (photo: x @FBI)

JAKARTA - The United States Federal Investigative Agency (FBI) has issued warnings about threats posed by Russian-backed hackers through the use of 'compromised' routers. This threat mainly leads to Ubiquiti EdgeRouters routers widely used by individuals and businesses.

According to the FBI, Russian hackers used this router as an entry point for cyberattacks, with the aim of accessing US government networks and others. In an effort to prevent further losses, the FBI along with NSA, US Cyber Command, and 10 other state intelligence services, issued a joint statement containing preventive measures for affected router users.

The #FBI and its partners have released a joint #CybersecurityAdvisory warning of Russian state-sponsored cyber actors’ use of compromised Ubiquiti EdgeRouters to facilitate malicious cyber operations worldwide. See the full details here: https://t.co/LF6StAfaO1 pic.twitter.com/75z2Blvhf6

— FBI (@FBI) February 27, 2024

The #FBI and its partners have released a joint #CybersecurityAdvisory warning of Russian state-sponsored cyber actors’ use of compromised Ubiquiti EdgeRouters to facilitate malicious cyber operations worldwide. See the full details here: https://t.co/LF6StAfaO1 pic.twitter.com/75z2Blvhf6

Ubiquiti EdgeRouters' routers are vulnerable to attacks due to less strict security settings by default. This makes them an easy target for hackers. To secure their devices, the FBI recommends measures such as resetting passwords, resetting factory hardware, and updating firmware to the latest version.

This threat was highlighted by the FBI after they succeeded in thwarting a Russian-backed botnet attack in mid-February. The botnet is controlled by GRU, Russia's main intelligence agency, and has been used to commit a series of cybercrimes including spearphishing attacks.

Spearphishing is an attack targeted at certain individuals by sending convincing false emails. Victims are directed to enter their login credentials into fake websites, which are then used by hackers to access their personal information.

Prevention measures provided by the FBI aim to help router users secure their devices from potentially harmful cyberattacks. Maintaining the latest software and firmware and changing the default password are simple but effective steps to reduce the risk of cyberattacks.