INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
As it continues to investigate the VPNFilter malware that's gripped hundreds of thousands of routers worldwide, the FBI has advised
consumers and office managers in the US to reset their network boxes to try and flush out at least part of the malicious code."The FBI
recommends any owner of small office and home office routers power cycle (reboot) the devices," the Bureau said in a statement
"VPNFilter is able to render small office and home office routers inoperable
The malware can potentially also collect information passing through the router."In other words, the malware can spy on your internet
activities or shut down your router entirely
It's still unclear exactly what the overall purpose of VPNFilter is, or who might be behind it, but the FBI says it's making progress in
shutting its network down.Are you infectedThere's still plenty we don't know about the VPNFilter malware, outside of the obvious fact that
Cisco's security team Talos has said more than 500,000 routers have been hit in over 54 countries worldwide, with a particular focus on the
Ukraine.The devices already identified as under threat include:Linksys E1200Linksys E2500Linksys WRVS4400NNetgear DGN2200Netgear
R6400Netgear R7000Netgear R8000Netgear WNR1000Netgear WNR2000QNAP TS251QNAP TS439 ProTP-Link R600VPNIt's not immediately clear how many of
those devices might be in the US, the UK, Australia or anywhere else, but the FBI statement recommends that anyone with a router at home or
in the office performs a reboot cycle
recommends updating your router with the latest firmware patches issues by the manufacturer, and changing the device passwords from the
If you're unsure how to do this, check your router's documentation or look up the details online.
