{"id":30250,"date":"2025-05-15T09:20:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T13:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/?p=30250"},"modified":"2025-05-15T09:20:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T13:20:12","slug":"fbi-says-these-13-old-internet-routers-are-vulnerable-to-attacks-the-geek-squad-scam-is-back-beware-this-social-security-scam-installs-remote-access-malware-on-your-pc-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/fbi-says-these-13-old-internet-routers-are-vulnerable-to-attacks-the-geek-squad-scam-is-back-beware-this-social-security-scam-installs-remote-access-malware-on-your-pc-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI says these 13 old internet routers are vulnerable to attacks; The Geek Squad scam is back; Beware: This Social Security Scam Installs Remote Access Malware on Your PC, and More!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;\"><strong>FBI says these 13 old internet routers are vulnerable to attacks; The Geek Squad scam is back; Beware: This Social Security Scam Installs Remote Access Malware on Your PC,<\/strong><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"> and More!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Every day, we scan the tech world for interesting news, sometimes from outside the tech world. Every Thursday, we feature news articles that grabbed our attention over the past week. We hope you find this week&#8217;s &#8216;Thursday Newsbytes&#8217; informative and interesting!<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2025\/05\/09\/linksys-internet-routers-cyberattack-fbi\/83537973007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">FBI says these 13 old internet routers are vulnerable to attacks. Is yours on the list?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The FBI has issued a security warning urging owners of old internet routers to replace their equipment, lest they become victims of a cyberattack.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The flash notice, issued May 7, said that &#8220;end-of-life&#8221; (EOL) routers, or those made so long ago that their software is no longer supported by their manufacturers, are being targeted by bad actors due to their age. With no patches or regular software updates to address security weaknesses, the outdated equipment becomes exceptionally vulnerable, allowing cyberattackers to access it remotely and install malware.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The targeted routers come pre-loaded with remote management software that threat actors know how to tap into, advised the notice. Once they do, they may install malicious software or set up a botnet &#8211; a group of internet-connected devices compromised and controlled by a third party that can then use them in an orchestrated manner to carry out activities such as stealing data, sending spam or committing denial-of-service attacks&#8230;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2025\/05\/09\/linksys-internet-routers-cyberattack-fbi\/83537973007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Read more at USA Today.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/article\/geek-squad-scam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The Geek Squad scam is back. Here&#8217;s what you need to know.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">No, that Geek Squad bill that you received in your email isn&#8217;t real. It&#8217;s a scam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Have you received an urgent email from tech support company Geek Squad, charging you an exorbitant amount of money for a subscription renewal?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">It&#8217;s a scam. The email is not really from Geek Squad, which is a legitimate business owned by the electronics retail chain Best Buy. And while scammers love to make it sound like you&#8217;re minutes away from a massive credit card charge, they can&#8217;t really charge you. The large amount stated in the email is just there to scare you\u2026that is, unless you respond and give the cybercriminals the information they want.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">So, up top, let&#8217;s be clear: Don&#8217;t respond to these Geek Squad scam emails. Ignore them. Don&#8217;t engage with the scammer&#8230;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/article\/geek-squad-scam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Read More at Mashable.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/beware-this-social-security-scam-installs-remote-access-malware-on-your\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Beware: This Social Security Scam Installs Remote Access Malware on Your PC<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The emails prompt you to download a Social Security statement, but clicking will allow malicious actors to install a remote access tool called ScreenConnect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Another day, another scam. Cybercriminals are sending fake Social Security emails to trick victims into installing a remote access tool on their computers, Malwarebytes reports.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The emails appear to come from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and prompt you to download a Social Security statement. Quite often, the entire email is in the form of an image, and clicking on the download link will allow malicious actors to install a remote access tool called ScreenConnect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thundercloud.net\/infoave\/images\/2025\/ssscam.png\" alt=\"Social Security Scam\" width=\"599\" height=\"658\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The attack has been linked to a phishing group called Molatori. Their primary goal is to take control of your PC, steal sensitive or banking information about you, and commit financial fraud. They can also use the stolen data for identity theft and other harmful activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">To avoid falling for this trap, pay attention to your messages. Since these emails are generated on compromised WordPress sites and are delivered as images, they tend to pass through email filters quite easily. You\u2019ll have to verify the source of the email independently and avoid clicking on links to open or download files unless you\u2019re sure they are not malicious&#8230;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/beware-this-social-security-scam-installs-remote-access-malware-on-your\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Read more at PC Mag.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/wrong-ai-video-generator-infect-pc-malware\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Using the Wrong AI Video Generator Could Infect Your PC With Malware<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">There are plenty of free AI image and video generators out there, but some can be outright dangerous to use. If you end up using the wrong AI video generator, you&#8217;ll get a side of malware served with it.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">AI Video Generators Are Distributing Malware<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">A new info-stealing malware called Noodlophile is hiding in fake AI video generators. Security experts at Morphisec discovered the campaign, claiming that these fake websites use names like &#8220;Dream Machine&#8221; and advertise their services on Facebook groups to attract more users.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">The sites will ask you to upload a sample image that their AI will convert into a video and offer the result as a ZIP archive for download. Since Windows does not show file extensions in Windows File Explorer by default, the file will appear as an MP4 video file to most people at first glance. In reality, it&#8217;s an executable file&#8230;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/wrong-ai-video-generator-infect-pc-malware\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Read more at MakeUseOf<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><strong>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/tech-powerhouses-betting-on-healthcare-ai-amazon-nvidia-2025-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">How tech&#8217;s biggest powerhouses from Amazon to Nvidia are betting on healthcare AI<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Artificial intelligence is gaining ground in healthcare, and tech&#8217;s biggest players are racing to stake their claims.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Many tech giants have been building healthcare businesses long before the AI boom. Amazon, for example, invested heavily in the industry when it acquired primary care provider One Medical for $3.9 billion in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Now, those tech powerhouses are sharpening their healthcare strategies with AI at the center. Chipmaker Nvidia has rapidly expanded its healthcare ambitions in the past two years, aiming to tackle everything from surgical robotics to drug discovery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Their healthcare ambitions reflect a broader shift: as AI advances, Big Tech sees fresh opportunities for transformation \u2014 and revenue \u2014 in the complex industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">From AI-powered wearables to robotic surgery, here&#8217;s how tech&#8217;s most powerful companies are investing in healthcare AI&#8230;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/tech-powerhouses-betting-on-healthcare-ai-amazon-nvidia-2025-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Read more at Business Insider.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #ff0000;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Thanks for reading this week&#8217;s Thursday Newbytes. We hope these articles were informative, interesting, fun, and helpful.<\/span> <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thundercloud.net\/donation.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/thundercloud.net\/infoave\/images\/2017\/goodfight2017.png\" alt=\"Help us help you!\" width=\"573\" height=\"136\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; FBI says these 13 old internet routers are vulnerable to attacks; The Geek Squad scam is back; Beware: This Social Security Scam Installs Remote Access Malware on Your PC, and More! Every day, we scan the tech world for interesting news, sometimes from outside the tech world. Every Thursday, we feature news articles that grabbed our attention\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/fbi-says-these-13-old-internet-routers-are-vulnerable-to-attacks-the-geek-squad-scam-is-back-beware-this-social-security-scam-installs-remote-access-malware-on-your-pc-and-more\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1655,4421,1669,1426,1680,3766,4522],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30250"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30250"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30251,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30250\/revisions\/30251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}