So i decided to go up on ArsTechnica to see what was up. While I was there, I saw one article I m not covering, this one, I just can’t help but cover.
It basicly talks about some type of box, more than likely a router from some manufacturer that is hiding in a closet somewhere with exploits and a CVE number.
While it seems like a simple article, not much is very known except that there is a link to a post by a researcher.
It talks about how the phishing sites ran code to prevent right clicking, among other things, although it could be OK to run code like that to prevent copyright.
The article also mentions that Telegram and bots that could speak multiple languages could also be used too.
But what device and other ifo is seeming scarce as if people have these, they have no idea.
I’m hoping we’ll learn more what devices could be doing this so we could at least know what’s happening.
If you want to read this, That annoying SMS phish you just got may have come from a box like this and enjoy.
I like the idea of the research, but we just don’t know much.
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To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if this was happening.
My router is updated by the isp usually.
My extender sits on its post and is old as jesus, and hasn’t had any updates in ages.
I have honest to the lord forgotten how long it was since I purchiced it.
My aunt has another unit even older than that.
The only time I bother interacting with the systems are when I need to reboot it which hardly ever happens.
If the power shuts off, then I turn it off then I turn it back on.
I haven’t touched most of the other boxes around the place either.
Really the only times I touch anything like this is if I need to configure it.
Like the net printer I rarely do anything unless there is something though the printer is the only thing I regularly check for updates.
Its still getting bits and bobs but mostly outlying software infrastructure.
The hardware is so old no firmware has come down.
Every so often I login to each unit and do a system firmware check and I do this once a year if that.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if someone’s linux router had a problem, got hacked and bang.
I mean unless its giving me trouble or my bill is acting strange its quite low I would bother checking it.
Even before life got more complex, I barely looked at the control board and even less so now in fact I rarely think of it.
Those linux boxes just stay about and do whatever.
There are some issues but with the family mostly with their own lives, the systems are not used extensively.
We have several smart devices including tvs, speakers, stereos, tablets, phones, computers and streamers used throughout the network.
But unlike it was a couple decades ago they are not used constantly or all the time.
I don’t want ai to moniter me so I rarely use the speakers.
The tablets are used on and off.
The streamer is only used when we have time to be in that location and no one ever has or not as often as we used to.
Technically we do have time to run the stereo but to be honest no one has had time to bother and if they do the analog radio is easier to run.
Its used to power the tv but thats at night.
In short, we have a lot of devices but bar the 2 workstations they are used extensively at different times of the day.
As the network admin I do my intensive work between 5 and 7, after which I will game and rarely stream.
The other workstation runs from 10 to late but doesn’t stream much and is used for accounting and daily life mainly.
My echo dot is used only when I watch sport and from time to time when I plugin to update then unplug.
The tablets are used randomly as are the phones.
It used to be 3 units and those units were constantly pulling loads of data but not now.
The net has some issues but as its rare that more than 1 of us uses it constantly I haven’t bothered resolving them.
Its unlikely i will bother.
As long as it runs then I have no issue.
So the person with a device in the cupboard transmitting stuff is quite possible.
If it works then I don’t even notice it.
The only other time I heard something strange like this was that a device somewhere some years back was sending a distress signal.
No one including the owner of the device was even aware when the millitary appeared at their door because of this.
Its uncertain why that is.
Though when I have had an issue of randomness the suspicians were that simply put devices go out when they go.
They may already be ancient when they leave the shelves and the easiest way is to just get them replaced.
No one knows why thats going on or how so stuff goes missing.
And if you have stock that works its the thing so there is that.
To be honest I wouldn’t hold much over this thing.
I would suspect an isolated device.
Then again if you have a power outage like I had with another site I looked at and constantly used often enough, that suddenly it had a cert error.
The admin at the time said he had a storm and his server just went down at the exact time it was doing a security check.
So he had to spend time rebuilding and recertifying manually at the location.
Not exactly something he wanted to spend his weekend doing but oh well.
To be honest I am unsure how much to put on this.
I mean shit happens and it happens enough to be a constant.
Its neither good or bad it just is.
Just like scams, spam and breaches they are as constant as the weather.