Security companies are warning everyone all over the globe that a serious botnet attack may be imminent. Expected to be even more disruptive than 2014’s Mirai botnet that caused a massive DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack and took down many popular websites, Reaper has already taken over nearly two million internet-connected devices within a month. Researchers at Israel’s Checkpoint are calling this current period “the calm before the storm.” Some fear it can take down the Internet.
Because Reaper takes advantage of known vulnerabilities in webcams, digital video recorders, security cameras and the like, it’s very critical to make sure all of these devices are updated with the latest security patches and if necessary, upgraded to the latest versions.
Don’t forget that hardware needs to be updated too. If you have purchased new routers, wireless access points, or other equipment like it, once it’s plugged in and installed, immediately change the default password and update the firmware. These devices often sit on store shelves for a long time and patches are released in between the time the store stocks them and when you purchase them.
In the case of the Reaper, researchers have not yet seen signs of any DDoS attacks. They are, however, worried about how it works and the potential damage it can do. Once the botnet owner has control of these devices, they can be remotely controlled. So far, it is infiltrating nine known vulnerabilities in D-Link, Netgear, AVTech products and at least 30 others.
Checkpoint researchers estimate that Reaper has affected organizations all across the globe, including in the U.S., the UK, and Australia.
For banks and credit unions
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