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JAMIE TUCKER Consumer Technology Reporter
The Department of Justice announced that it has identified and removed malware from a Russian state-sponsored cyber terrorist organization that targeted U.S. homes and businesses.
“For the second time in two months, we have prevented state-sponsored hackers from launching a cyber attack behind a compromised U.S. router,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.
The latest attack targeted Ubiquiti Edge routers that were still using the default username and password that came with them. Cybercriminals can obtain default passwords from the Internet and send malware to those routers.
Users who do not change their default passwords can have their internet routers compromised and use the malware to further spread to other homes and businesses.
Ubiquiti Edge routers are less popular than routers from Linksys, Netgear, and TP-link, but they are preferred by many technology-minded home and business owners.
The report from the Department of Justice does not mean you should not use Ubiquiti routers. However, you will need to reset the default password that comes with it.
And that applies to all internet routers and WiFi routers.
To change your password, open your router's app or access your account online.
Choose a new password that is difficult to guess. Choose a password that is at least 15 characters long and includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. No need to remember and enter passwords frequently.
It's safer to write it down and hide it somewhere, like in a book on your bookshelf. Many providers offer enhanced security to protect their networks, so please contact your provider if you experience any issues.
Turn off your router every few months. Wait a few seconds and then turn it back on. This will install the security update.
This not only keeps your network more secure, but it also has the potential to operate faster over a wider range.
