Federal investigators have recently uncovered a far-reaching network of compromised home office routers, revealing the unintended consequences of the booming trend of working from home. These routers were exploited by hackers in China to launch attacks on critical infrastructure in the United States.
One notable technique employed by these hackers is called "living off the land," where compromised routers are used to evade detection. This method is particularly effective as botnets of this nature do not disrupt the normal functioning of devices, making them difficult to detect. Corporate systems tend to be less vulnerable to such intrusions due to the presence of IT professionals who monitor for suspicious activities.
The majority of the infected routers, manufactured by Cisco Systems Inc. and NetGear Inc., had already reached their "end-of-life" status. This means that these devices were no longer receiving security updates and patches from the companies, leaving them susceptible to attacks.
As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent, it is crucial for individuals and organizations to prioritize the security of their home office networks. Regular updates and security patches are essential in safeguarding against potential cyber threats.
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