Transcript
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KAT COURTNEY:
Hello, and welcome to another Norton Vulnerability Alert. In October of 2016, we saw the first major outbreak of malware that targets the internet of things. This type of malware can infect multiple types of connected devices, including DVRs, printers, and even connected home appliances. This malware, dubbed the Mirai malware, is the first major threat on connected devices, and it’s evolving quickly.
Mirai was able to gain access to these devices by using the default passwords and usernames that the connected devices shipped with. These infected devices were then used in distributed denial of services attacks by creating a botnet. A botnet is a network of various devices that have been infected with malware and which are controlled remotely. The owner of the botnet can then cause the affected devices to send large amounts of data to a target.
In the case of Mirai, affected devices were instructed to send mass amounts of data to a large website hosting company, which caused many popular websites to be taken offline. Initially, this strain of malware only infected Linux-based systems. However, a version that affects Windows machines has now been discovered, increasing the potential of this threat. While there hasn’t yet been a widespread outbreak of the new Windows variant, it is important to make sure you’re protected in case of such an outbreak.
In addition to maintaining safe browsing practices, you should consider using an internet security programme. Norton Security provides up-to-date protection for your devices. Norton even detects this new version of the Mirai malware.
A good practice in helping to stay protected from these kinds of threats is to change any default passwords that come with the device. Wireless routers, for instance, come with default passwords that anyone can find with a quick search online. Changing these passwords to a unique password can help greatly in protecting yourself and your network.
As mentioned before, Norton Security provides protection from this threat, as well as many others. You can check it out at norton.com. Thanks for watching, and keep an eye out for the next Norton Vulnerability Alert.
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