Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

The FBI managed to prevent the actions of Russian hackers

The FBI managed to prevent the actions of Russian hackers

The FBI succeeded in thwarting Russian hackers, gained control of thousands of devices that had previously been seized by cybercriminals believed to be under the direction of Russian military intelligence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation gained control of thousands of Internet routers and hardware firewalls previously hacked by Russian military hackers using the same tools used by Moscow-based cybercriminals to communicate with devices, the U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday.

A cutscene statement released today describes the unusual operation as a pre-emptive measure to prevent Russian hackers from attempting to assemble compromised devices into a “botnet,” a network of compromised computers that can be used by hackers to attack other servers with streams of Internet traffic.

“Fortunately, we were able to stop this botnet from forming before it was used,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

The Russian embassy in Washington has not yet responded to a request for comment from the US Department of Justice.

The botnet assembled by hackers was controlled using the Cyclops Blink virus program, which US and British cyber defense agencies attributed in late February to the “Sandworm” – presumably , one of the hacker groups controlled by Russian military intelligence. This group has been repeatedly accused of committing other cyberattacks.

Cyclops Blink was designed to hack devices manufactured by computer companies WatchGuard Technologies Inc and ASUSTeK Computer Inc, according to private cybersecurity companies. The program allows Russian hackers to gain access to the systems they have hacked, giving them the ability to remotely remove or delete data, as well as use the devices to attack other networks.

Watchguard released a statement confirming its cooperation with the Ministry of Justice to prevent the creation of a botnet, but did not disclose the number of devices affected by hackers, noting that this number is “less than 1% of all WatchGuard devices.”

AsusTek, also known like Asus, has not yet responded to a request for comment.

FBI Director Chris Ray told reporters that his agency, with court permission, secretly accessed thousands of routers and hardware firewalls in order to remove the virus and change the configuration devices.

“We've removed the virus from devices used by thousands of mostly small businesses to support network security around the world,” Ray said. “We closed the door that the Russians used to infiltrate [other networks].”

A document released today notes that the US government has launched an awareness campaign to educate owners of WatchGuard devices about the steps they should take to prevent hacker attacks. It is also reported that so far less than half of the devices previously captured by hackers have been controlled.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Hungarian Parliament Approves Citizenship Suspension Law
Prime Minister Orbán Criticizes EU's Ukraine Accession Plans
Hungarian Delicacies Introduced to Japanese Market
Hungary's Industrial Output Rises Amid Battery Sector Slump
President Sulyok Celebrates 15 Years of Hungarian Unity Efforts
Hungary's Szeleczki Shines at World Judo Championships
Visegrád Construction Trends Diverge as Hungary Lags
Hungary Hosts National Quantum Technology Workshop
Hungarian Animation Featured at Annecy Festival
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
UK and EU Reach Agreement on Gibraltar's Schengen Integration
Israeli Finance Minister Imposes Banking Penalties on Palestinians
U.S. Inflation Rises to 2.4% in May Amid Trade Tensions
Trump's Policies Prompt Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment in U.S.
Global Oceans Near Record Temperatures as CO₂ Levels Climb
Trump Announces U.S.-China Trade Deal Covering Rare Earths
Smuggled U.S. Fuel Funds Mexican Cartels Amid Crackdown
Austrian School Shooting Leaves Nine Dead in Graz
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Low Turnout Jeopardizes Italy's Citizenship Reform Referendum
Transatlantic Interest Rate Divergence Widens as Trump Pressures Powell
EU Lawmaker Calls for Broader Exemptions in Supply Chain Legislation
France's Defense Spending Plans Threatened by High National Debt
European Small-Cap Stocks Outperform U.S. Rivals Amid Growth Revival
Switzerland Proposes $26 Billion Capital Increase for UBS
×