FBI Warns Hackers Are Using End-of-Life Routers to Mask Their Tracks

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a stark warning to businesses and home users: cybercriminals are actively exploiting outdated, unsupported routers to hide their tracks and launch attacks, making them a favored tool for masking malicious operations.

According to a new security advisory released May 7, FBI investigators have observed a troubling spike in cyberattacks utilizing “end-of-life” (EOL) routers.

These devices, no longer supported with updates or security patches by their manufacturers, have become prime targets for hackers seeking to install malware and incorporate them into botnets.

Outdated Routers, Active Threats

The advisory highlights that criminal services such as 5Socks and Anyproxy are leveraging EOL routers by exploiting well-known vulnerabilities.

Once compromised, these routers can be remotely controlled and used as part of a proxy network, allowing bad actors to conceal their true identities and physical locations when conducting attacks worldwide, including targeting U.S. critical infrastructure.

A ...