Thursday, April 09, 2026

Russian Hackers Broke Into 1000's of Home Routers to Steal Passwords

A group of Russian government hackers have hijacked thousands of home and small business routers around the world ...

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Britons warned about Russian hackers targeting internet routers for espionage

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-- The Guardian (@theguardian.com) Apr 8, 2026 at 7:38 AM

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More from the article ...

... This is the latest tactic by the long-running Russian hacking group known as Fancy Bear, or APT 28, known for its high-profile hacks and spying operations, including the breach of the Democratic National Committee in 2016 and the destructive hack that hit satellite provider Viasat in 2022. Fancy Bear is widely believed to be part of Russia's intelligence agency GRU.

The hacking group targeted unpatched routers made by MikroTik and TP-Link using previously disclosed vulnerabilities according to the U.K. government's cybersecurity unit NCSC and Lumen's research arm Black Lotus Labs, which released new details of the campaign Tuesday.

According to the researchers, the hackers were able to spy on large numbers of people over the course of several years by compromising their routers, many of which run outdated software, leaving them vulnerable to remote attacks without their owners' knowledge. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-08 10:13 PM

OK, this begs the question ...

The router you have in your home network ...

How do you know the software on it has been updated to protect you against the latest intrusion attempts?

It's a simple question.

But I suspect it will be greeted with a question along the lines of, ~what's a router,~ and blank stares ...


#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-08 10:15 PM

How do you know the software on it has been updated to protect you against the latest intrusion attempts?

It's a simple question.

Many may not know how to update router firmware.

Anyone can Google "log into xxxxx router" with the make and model number (usually on the bottom of the router if they aren't sure).

Google should provide links to their manufacturer on steps to log into the router.

Once they're logged in, they can query Google on the other browser tab on where in their router settings they can check for firmware updates and change their router password.

On many routers, simply unplugging the router for 10 seconds and plugging it back in once a week will automatically check for updates.

#3 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-04-10 01:00 AM

PS - it's best to do it over a hardwired connection with the router if one can.

Interruptions to a WiFi signal during the process could cause problems.

#4 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-04-10 01:02 AM

Many may not know how to update router firmware.

I should really do that, but I just don't feel like it.

#5 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-10 01:08 AM

I should really do that, but I just don't feel like it.

#5 | Posted by REDIAL

I do!

Sincerely,

Vlad Hackerovich

(ha ha)

Seriously, just unplug the power cord from your router for 10 seconds and plug it back in. That should be all it takes. And it's a good idea to do it once a week anyway. Security aside, doing that helps keep it running at optimal speeds.

#6 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-04-10 01:19 AM

That should be all it takes.

I have a bunch of managed switches and a router that I just use for a WAP. Updates tend to be tedious. And I just bought a new bike and rifle.

#7 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-10 01:42 AM

If you are concerned that you may have been hacked, DM me with a list of your logins and credentials. I will check the dark web for you.

#8 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-04-10 02:05 AM

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