National Security Agency warns Americans they must reboot their routers right now over cyber threat

The National Security Agency (NSA) has warned Americans to reboot their routers amid a rise in hackers targeting home networks. 

The NSA has said that malicious cyber actors have been using home networks to gain access to personal and confidential information and warned, “Don’t be a victim!”

The agency co-sealed an FBI public service announcement warning about ‘Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) cyber actors’ that are exploiting ‘vulnerable routers’ across the world. 

The statement went on to urge Americans to act now to reduce their risk of an attack.

The National Security Agency and FBI have shared a warning about potential cyber attacks to home networks

The NSA said that hackers known as APT28, aka Fancy Bear, and Forest Blizzard, have been ‘collecting credentials and exploiting vulnerable routers worldwide, including compromising TP-Link routers using CVE-2023-5022’. 

The statement said that the hackers had ‘indiscriminately compromised’ a wide range of victims, both in the US and further afield.

And had been ‘especially targeting information related to military, government, and critical infrastructure’. 

The new warning comes after US officials announced a ban on the import of all new foreign-made routers into the country. 

The Federal Communications Commission said that routers made overseas and imported into US homes could pose a ‘severe cybersecurity risk’ and that they could be used to ‘immediately and severely disrupt US critical infrastructure and directly harm US persons’. 

Here’s how to keep yourself safe from router hacks

Cyber hacks and attacks are becoming more sophisticated and common, but thankfully, there are things you can do to protect yourself, like making sure you are running the latest version of your phone’s operating system or being on the lookout for potential scam emails. 

Alongside its most recent warning, the National Security Agency shared best practice information when it comes to your router and keeping it safe. 

“The FBI, NSA, and co-sealing agencies encourage SOHO router users to change default usernames and passwords, disable remote management interfaces from the Internet, update to the latest firmware versions, and upgrade end-of-support devices,” the agency said. 

“Users should also carefully consider certificate warnings in web browsers and email clients.”

So, if your router has been working away for years on end without you giving it much thought, now could be the time to upgrade it. 

It’s a good idea to make sure your router is still supported with regular security updates and fixes, and to use a strong password that you don’t use elsewhere to secure the device. 

The NSA also recommends that you ‘schedule weekly reboots of your routing device, smartphones, and computers’, as this helps to boost security and remove implants.

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