Chuck Norris Botnet Affects Linux Routers
Researchers at the University of Masaryk in Brno, Czech Republic, have detected a botnet that can hit Linux routers and DSL modems.
According to an article in the Prague Daily Monitor, researchers detected the trojan while working on securing the Czech national defense ministry, known as CYBER, against Internet attacks.
Head of the security project Jan Vykopal identified the suspect as a self-perpetuating trojan that first and foremost attacks Linux routers and DSL modems with weak usernames and passwords. The botnet was first detected in a D-Link device, Vykopal revealed in a PCWorld article. Next to MIPS-based Linux devices, the Chuck Norris botnet can also affect satellite TV receivers.
The botnet found its first martial arts moves from a server out of Italy, getting its name from a bit of source code with the line "in nome di Chuck Norris." It was immediately removed from the Net after its discovery and reporting. Since then, however, a number of copies have been identified worldwide. Infected devices are notably in Europe, South America and China, with the exact number not known.
The botnet's main objective is to gather passwords and access to Internet banking, online shops and related sites
Just Say No. The Chuck Norris botnet lives in the router's RAM, so a simple restart will remove it. The easiest way to avoid any further attacks through the Web interface is by using a strong password on the router or modem.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Hannah Montana Linux Is Back!
Developer Noah Cagle decided the world needed the once obscure but beloved Linux distribution and gave it a decidedly pink refresh.
-
System76 Refreshes the Lemur Laptop
If you're looking for a laptop with tons of power and battery, look no further than the latest iteration of the System76 Lemur Pro.
-
More than 43 Million Lines of Code in Linux Kernel 7.2
Using the cloc utility, Michael Larabel of Phoronix discovered that Linux kernel 7.2 has over 43 million lines of code.
-
Kubuntu Focus Goes Ultra
The Kubuntu Focus team has upped the performance ante of its M2 and Zr laptops with the latest, greatest CPUs from Intel.
-
Linux Gamers May Soon See Less Mouse Lag in KDE Plasma
Gamers using KDE’s Plasma desktop have been suffering from a slight input delay in mouse movement that could lead to getting fragged.
-
Three Lines of Code Improve Linux Storage Performance
A developer changed three lines of code, giving Linux storage performance a 5% bump.
-
AUR Hit Again with Malicious Packages
Once again the Arch User Repository is plagued by a high volume of malicious packages.
-
Alpine Linux 3.24 Features Fresh Desktops and a Newer Kernel
If you're a fan of Alpine Linux, it's time to upgrade because the latest version has been released with KDE Plasma 6.6, Gnome 50, and Linux kernel 6.18 LTS.
-
EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
Comprehensive measures adopted by the European Commission aim to reduce dependency on non-EU countries.
-
Linux Foundation Report Indicates AI Driving Tech Hiring
Within growing security and skills gaps, AI has been found to be a positive driving force behind tech hiring trends in Europe.