Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The FBI-led January 2024 operation blocked Russian military intelligence from remotely accessing a network of compromised routers, but it did not establish that every infected device or part of the wider botnet had been cleaned. In May 2024, Trend Micro findings reported by SecurityWeek described some likely still-infected devices and new command-and-control infrastructure observed earlier that year. That is evidence of residual activity in 2024—not confirmation that this botnet is active today.
What happened to the Ubiquiti router botnet the FBI disrupted?
The U.S. Department of Justice said a court-authorized operation in January 2024 disrupted GRU access to a network of hundreds of small-office and home-office routers. The operation, called Operation Dying Ember, targeted compromised Ubiquiti EdgeOS routers that Russian military intelligence actors had been using to support cyber operations. The DOJ described the network disruption, while FBI Boston’s special agent in charge said the international effort remediated more than a thousand compromised routers in the United States and around the world. Those are operation figures from 2024, not an estimate of the network’s current size. DOJ announcement
The operation used Moobot malware to copy and delete stolen and malicious files from compromised routers, then temporarily changed firewall rules to block GRU remote-management access. The DOJ said the changes were tested on the relevant EdgeOS routers, did not interfere with normal router functionality or collect legitimate user content, and could be reversed through a factory reset or local router access. This was an access disruption and remediation action—not proof that every device or every part of the larger network had been permanently cleaned.
How criminals’ infected routers became useful to Russian spies
According to the DOJ, the network began with criminal actors installing Moobot on Ubiquiti EdgeOS routers whose publicly known default administrator passwords had not been changed. GRU actors later gained access to the network and added their own scripts and files. The DOJ identifies the actors as APT28, associated with GRU Military Unit 26165 and also known by names including Forest Blizzard, Fancy Bear, Pawn Storm, Sofacy Group, and Sednit. They used the compromised infrastructure to conceal and enable activity such as spear-phishing and credential harvesting against government, military, security, and corporate targets. DOJ account of the operation
#1 Best Overall
- Compact and Efficient Design: The FortiGate 40F is designed for small to mid-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices, featuring a compact, fanless desktop form factor that ensures quiet operation and minimizes space usage.
- Robust Connectivity Options: Equipped with 5 GE RJ45 ports, including 1 WAN port and 4 internal ports, this model provides essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- High-Performance Security: Offers up to 1 Gbps IPS throughput and 600 Mbps threat protection throughput, using Fortinet’s purpose-built security processor technology to deliver industry-leading performance and protection for SSL encrypted traffic.
- Advanced Threat Protection: Integrated with Fortinet’s AI-powered FortiGuard Labs, the FortiGate 40F offers comprehensive cybersecurity, identifying and mitigating both known and unknown threats to maintain robust security across your network.
- Simplified Management and Deployment: Features a user-friendly management console that provides comprehensive network automation and visibility, coupled with Zero Touch Integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for easy deployment.
The FBI’s joint advisory says compromised EdgeRouters were used to collect credentials and NTLMv2 digests, proxy network traffic, and host phishing landing pages and custom tools. It describes a risk combination: Linux-based router software, default or weak credentials, limited firewall protections, and firmware that does not automatically update unless configured. These conditions describe the affected devices and exposure—not a claim that every Ubiquiti router is vulnerable or compromised. Joint advisory and indicators
Why “disrupted” did not mean the wider botnet was gone
Trend Micro’s investigation, as reported by SecurityWeek on May 3, 2024, found a broader network than Ubiquiti routers alone. Researchers identified Raspberry Pi devices, other Linux systems, and more than 350 compromised datacenter VPS IP addresses. The VPS figure is a count of IP addresses reported in that investigation, not a count of routers or a current botnet-size estimate. SecurityWeek’s report of Trend Micro’s findings
Rank #2
- HARDWARE PLUS SECURITY SERVICES: FortiGate-60F Firewall Appliance bundled with 1 year of FortiCare Premium and FortiGuard Unified Threat Protection.
- UNIFIED THREAT PROTECTION (UTP): Secures against advanced online threats with comprehensive web filtering and anti-botnet technologies.
- OPTIMIZED FOR MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES: Tailored for businesses needing robust security without the infrastructure of larger enterprises.
- RELIABLE CUSTOMER SUPPORT: FortiCare Premium ensures high-quality support and service continuity.
- EFFECTIVE PROTECTION: Employs advanced filtering technologies to safeguard against sophisticated threats.
SecurityWeek reported that Trend Micro observed varied activity across the infected infrastructure, including SSH brute forcing, pharmaceutical spam, NTLMv2 hash-relay activity, credential phishing, proxying, cryptocurrency mining, and spear-phishing. The reporting also described other criminal users, including the Canadian Pharmacy gang and a group using Ngioweb malware to offer infected devices as residential proxies. This broader criminal use helps explain why blocking one state actor’s access did not necessarily remove every operator, device, or malicious program in the network.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTrend Micro’s May 2024 findings said some bots likely remained infected and that operators moved some bots to new command-and-control infrastructure in early February. The report attributed incomplete cleanup in part to malware beyond the Ubiquiti devices and additional malware that had not been detected. SecurityWeek also placed the botnet’s beginnings in 2016 and APT28’s access to it in April 2022. These are retrospective findings reported in 2024; they do not establish the botnet’s status in October 2026. SecurityWeek report, May 3, 2024
Rank #3
- 【Up to 1100 Mbps VPN Speed 】 Hardware-accelerated WireGuard and OpenVPN-DCO deliver up to 1100 Mbps VPN throughput, over 3× faster than Brume 2 for smooth remote access and file transfers.
- 【Three 2.5G Ports & Multi-WAN】Tri-port 2.5GbE design with flexible WAN LAN configuration supports multi-gigabit wired setups, dual-ISP Multi-WAN and failover to keep home and SOHO networks online.
- 【Stealth VPN Obfuscation】VPN obfuscation disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS, helping you evade blocking, bypass restrictive networks and maintain stable, private connections.
- 【DPI protection】Deep Packet Inspection with visual dashboards blocks adult/gambling/malicious sites, while SQM and QoS prioritize gaming, calls, and video when bandwidth is tight
- 【OpenWrt & USB 3.0 Expansion】OpenWrt with 1GB DDR4 and 8GB eMMC lets you install plugins and build VPN, ad-blocking or NAS, while USB 3.0 Type‑C connects high-speed storage or 4G/5G dongles
Are Ubiquiti EdgeRouters still infected after the FBI takedown?
The cited reporting does not establish that this botnet remains active now. It establishes that researchers reported likely surviving infections and infrastructure changes in early 2024, months after the January disruption. Nor does the operation mean a particular router is infected: the warning concerns compromised devices and risk conditions, not every EdgeRouter owner.
If you own an EdgeRouter, treat the FBI’s remediation advice as the practical response to a suspected or confirmed compromise, rather than relying on the passage of time or on the government operation to secure your device. The advisory’s technical indicators can help defenders investigate, but the FBI’s recommended device steps are the direct owner guidance. FBI and partner advisory
Rank #4
- Runs UniFi Network for full-stack network management
- Manages 30+ UniFi Network devices and 300+ clients
- 1 Gbps routing with IDS/IPS
- Multi-WAN load balancing
- 0.96" LCM status display
How to secure an EdgeRouter after a botnet warning
The FBI, NSA, U.S. Cyber Command, and international partners recommend a hardware factory reset, current firmware, new credentials, and firewall rules that restrict remote management from the WAN side. The advisory explicitly warns that rebooting alone will not remove the malware of concern. Follow model-specific instructions in Ubiquiti’s current documentation when carrying out a reset or firmware update.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Perform a hardware factory reset. Use the physical reset procedure for your model to flush malicious files and restore settings. A normal reboot is not a substitute.
- Install the latest firmware. After the reset, update the router using the current firmware and model-specific instructions.
- Replace default credentials. Change all default usernames and passwords to unique, strong credentials. The DOJ warns that resetting without changing the default administrator password can leave a router exposed to reinfection or similar compromise.
- Restrict WAN-side management. Apply strategic firewall rules on WAN-facing interfaces so remote management is not exposed to the internet unless specifically required and securely controlled.
These steps are the agencies’ procedural recommendations, not a guarantee that a router with a separate or unknown compromise has been fully investigated. For an organization-managed device or signs of continuing compromise, consult a qualified incident responder and preserve relevant evidence before making changes.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
