The FBI Wants You To Reboot Your Router, Now

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

The FBI issued an urgent warning to everyone who owns an internet router: Turn it off and turn it back on, and do it right away.

According to the New York Times, "a sophisticated malware system linked to Russia" has already infected thousands of routers. The malware is capable of blocking web traffic, collecting information that passes through home and office routers, and disabling your devices entirely.

The Russian hackers are using something called VPNFilter malware to target home and small office routers. Aside from restarting your router by turning it off and on, the FBI also advises using encryption, upgrading firmware, and changing your passwords.

So, get to it! Restart that router, change those passwords (you should be doing this anyway), and keep your internet usage safe and clear. Unless you want Russian hackers to be able to see how many hours of Netflix you've logged this weekend.

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