VPNFilter Malware – What you need to know

Recently, malware known as “VPNFilter” has been identified to potentially impact nearly 500,000 routers. This report was a result of Cisco Talos’s investigation. This is a big deal for not only residential networks, but also small businesses. VPNFilter is a potentially destructive malware, which means it can cause big damage and potentially large amounts of data loss.

“The known devices affected by VPNFilter are Linksys, MikroTik, NETGEAR and TP-Link networking equipment in the small and home office (SOHO) space, as well at QNAP network-attached storage (NAS) devices. No other vendors, including Cisco, have been observed as infected by VPNFilter” according to Talos but the investigation is still on-going.

How do we go about fixing this?

• Each router is a little different and require different steps to alleviate this issue
• We recommend checking the knowledgebase on the manufacturer’s website to know how to address this issue
• Most manufactures are requesting users to complete the following steps:

1. Restore the router to factory settings
2. Reconfiguration the router
3. Make sure to use strong passwords!

How do we prevent issues like this going forward?

• Managed firewall, or at the very least a business-class firewall, is key to preventing unwanted intruders from getting into your network
• Ensuring that the administrative login on your networking devices use strong passwords that contain
• Run Networks offers managed firewalls and specializes in setting up and maintaining secure networks in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area
• If these steps seem vague, that’s because this investigation is still ongoing and there is not a clear path to identify and eliminate this malware

Contact us today to secure your data. Remember, small business is a BIG target. Don’t be a victim of cyber-attacks.