FBI Warning: Russian Hackers Hijacked Thousands of Home Routers Across America

FBI Warning Russian Hackers Hijacked Thousands of Home Routers Across America

FBI Warning: Russian Hackers Hijacked Thousands of Home Routers Across America

A major cyber warning is now raising alarms across the United States, after federal investigators revealed that Russian military-linked hackers secretly infiltrated thousands of internet routers used in homes and small offices. And officials say this operation may have been running quietly for years.

According to investigators, the group behind the attack is connected to Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, a hacking organization widely known in cybersecurity circles by names like APT28 and Fancy Bear. This is the same network that has previously been linked to high-profile cyber espionage campaigns targeting governments, elections and critical infrastructure around the world.

But this latest operation hits much closer to home. Literally.

Authorities say the hackers targeted older internet routers, especially outdated TP-Link models commonly found in homes and small businesses. Once inside, they were able to intercept internet traffic, collect login credentials and quietly build a hidden network of compromised devices across at least 23 US states.

Cybersecurity experts describe this as a DNS hijacking campaign. In simple terms, hackers manipulate the settings inside a router so they can secretly monitor or redirect internet activity. That means sensitive information, including passwords and communications, could potentially pass through systems controlled by foreign threat actors without users ever realizing it.

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The FBI says it has already disrupted part of the operation through a court-authorized intervention that remotely reset thousands of infected devices. But officials are warning that the responsibility now shifts to individual users and businesses to secure their own networks before the attackers regain access.

And that is where this story becomes important for millions of people worldwide.

Most people rarely think about their router after plugging it in. Devices often sit untouched for years, running outdated software with weak passwords and remote access features still enabled. Cybersecurity researchers say that makes routers one of the easiest entry points for state-sponsored hacking groups.

Experts are now urging users to take immediate action. That includes updating router firmware, changing default administrator passwords, disabling remote management features, rebooting devices regularly and replacing older hardware that no longer receives security updates.

The concern goes far beyond personal privacy. Officials say operations like this can also be used to target government agencies, military systems and critical infrastructure by hiding malicious traffic behind ordinary home internet connections.

This case is another reminder that cyber warfare is no longer confined to secret intelligence networks or corporate servers. Increasingly, it is reaching directly into everyday households through the devices people depend on every single day.

Stay with us for continuing coverage on global cybersecurity threats, digital privacy and the growing battle unfolding behind the screens we use every day.

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