Linux routers and modems targeted by ‘Psybot’

Researchers have warned of a new botnet worm called psyb0t' that targets both exploited DSL modems and routers.

According to a blog post, DroneBL researchers said that this was the first known botnet targeting home routers and cable/dsl modems, with an estimated 100,000 devices infected.

They said: "The technique is one to be extremely concerned about because most end users will not know their network has been hacked, or the router is exploited.

"This means that in the future, this could be an attack vector for the theft of personally identifying information."

DroneBL said that most of the vulnerable devices were mipsel devices that had weak usernames and passwords or other errors.

They commented that the author of the worm used sophisticated programming language which used different strategies to break in to devices, and that action needed to be taken before the worm grew larger.

The botnet was found as part of DroneBL investigation into DDoS attacks against their infrastructure.