The FBI Warns: Your Elderly Cisco Linksys Router May Be Under Serious Threat from Cyber Criminals

Unless you're a networking engineer, it's unlikely you've thought about your router in some time. After all, working tech is working tech, and if it's still delivering the speeds your internet provider promised, why change it? But cyber criminals would have you believe otherwise. According to the FBI, certain elderly routers are under serious threat from nefarious internet forces.

The warning comes in the form of a document released by the FBI, which advises that End of Life (EOL) routers are particularly vulnerable to attacks from malicious actors. Specifically, multiple Cisco Linksys models have been identified as "vulnerable to compromise" due to known vulnerabilities. These threats can exploit weaknesses to install malware, use the router in botnets for coordinated attacks or sell access to the device as a proxy service.

The document highlights the importance of replacing compromised devices with newer models or taking steps to prevent infection by disabling remote administration and rebooting the router. Given how many people cling on to ageing routers until their ISP finally replaces them, it's worth having a look at routers used by your nearest and dearest too.

A Call to Action for Your Family Members

I'm pretty sure my grandparents use a clockwork router from 1853 (or thereabouts) for their home network. While that's certainly an exaggeration, it drives home the point: even older generations need to be aware of the risks associated with their devices.

A Warning Beyond Cisco Linksys

While Cisco Linksys routers are specifically named in the FBI warning, other manufacturers have also been in the news recently regarding security concerns. TP-Link routers, for example, have been linked to Chinese cyberattacks, and US congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has called for a ban of these devices due to their involvement in a "worst in nation's history" US telecoms hack revealed late last year.

Networking might be the least sexy of all hardware concerns, but it's worth remembering that your router is the last port of call between the worldwide web and your personal devices. Even if your router doesn't appear on this list, don't you think it's worth giving it a check over – and most certainly a firmware update?

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About the Author

Andy built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 12, when IDE cables were a thing and high resolution wasn't—and he hasn't stopped since. Now working as a hardware writer for PC Gamer, Andy's been jumping around the world attending product launches and trade shows, all the while reviewing every bit of PC hardware he can get his hands on. You name it, if it's interesting hardware he'll write words about it, with opinions and everything.