FBI says to "reboot" your router or else!! What you really need to know about this issue.

Last week the FBI issued a report stating that everyone should reboot their router to combat the Russians, who have been reportedly spying on all of us through a sophisticated "VPNFilter" malware bot. This was brought to my attention by a client of mine who read the warning in the NY Times...so it must be legit!?! Alas, this is part irresponsible, post-cold war, journalism and in part the god's honest truth. Here are the facts and what you should do:

YES - VPNFilter is real and has infected over 500,000 routers and network devices.

YES - VPNFilter is malicious and in the wrongs hands mess you up by taking over your networking devices.

NOT LIKELY - That you are affected by this. You are if you own one of these old, antiquated devices:

Linksys: E1200, E2500, WRVS4400N

Mikrotik: 1016, 1036, 1072

Netgear: DGN2200, R6400, R7000, R8000, WNR1000, WNR2000

QNAP: TS251, S439 Pro, other QNAP NAS devices running QTS software

TP-Link: R600VPN

So, in essence, you are not likely infected BUT

YOU SHOULD - Immediately update your router's firmware and upon doing so the router will indeed reboot. Just rebooting the router may help, but if infected, the router will still have traces of VPNFilter after the reboot...

WHAT THEY REALLY MEANT TO SAY INSTEAD OF "REBOOT" - Is RESET. Yes, resetting your router would wipe it clean of any bugs...but what a hassle! You have to reset it up and re add all computers and devices to it. It's worth the hassle.

MORE INFO - can be read here:

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-fbi-says-you-should-reboot-your-router-should-you-explainer/

Any questions or concerns about your networking equipment just give your boy a holler...I'm here for you!