Researchers specializing in information security revealed the existence of a huge electronic hacking network, through which cybercriminals were able to secretly control more than 14,000 devices connected to the Internet around the world.
Lumen, a company specializing in cybersecurity, explained that the majority of the infected devices are routers produced by Asus, and they were hacked using an advanced malicious program known as “KadNap,” which is used to direct harmful Internet traffic and carry out large-scale cyberattacks.
This software creates a network of compromised devices, known as a botnet, that attackers control remotely. Devices connected to the Internet are secretly hacked and linked to each other via a decentralized system based on “peer-to-peer” technology, where the devices communicate directly with each other without the need for a central server, making them very difficult to track or stop.
Target devices can include a wide range of IoT devices, such as home routers and other smart devices connected to the network, including some smart home devices.
After taking control of these devices, attackers use them to carry out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which are attacks that aim to flood websites and online services with massive amounts of traffic, causing them to crash or take them out of service.
The company’s report indicated that modern society’s increasing reliance on Internet of Things devices opens the door for malicious actors to exploit security vulnerabilities found in these devices.
The report confirmed that the primary goal of this network is to camouflage and make attacks more difficult to detect or stop.
The report concluded that every IP address associated with this malicious network represents a constant threat to organizations and individuals alike, due to the possibility of it being used to launch electronic attacks without the knowledge of the owners of the hacked devices. (Russia Today)
