THOUSANDS of internet routers in Spain could be wide-open to hackers, according to reports that say some mobile networks plan to withdraw and recall them.
Zyxel, D-Link and Netgear wi-fi boxes have been mentioned, as they apparently suffer weaknesses that allow cyber-criminals in through the back door to manipulate them to their own ends. .
Users in Spain are not the only ones affected – in some other countries, the hackers have left tens of thousands of customers without internet.
In other cases, the routers are tapped so that all internet pages show annoying adverts or automatically flick to advertising sites, rendering them unusable – a virus-type programme known as 'adware'.
Some users have reported their computers being turned into a link in a so-called 'botnet', a network of terminals interlinked to strengthen the chain and attack other laptops, desktop hard drives and mobile phones.
Jazztel, which operates in Spain, uses Zyxel routers – albeit in a very small proportion to the total number it supplies – and has reported up to 16,000 of these being affected.
Although Jazztel says the risk of hackers introducing a virus, adware or linking the system to a botnet is 'very small', the company is analysing the situation with a view to possibly recalling, withdrawing or updating the routers.
The problem is said to have left nearly a million wi-fi customers in Germany and some 100,000 in the UK, through different – but undisclosed – network providers, without internet.
Netgear routers have been found to be vulnerable to a malware programme named 'Acew0rm', whereby if a user clicks on a link whilst connected to the router, the malicious software takes control of the computer.
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