Households and small firms and their equipment used for connection to the internet have been targets of this network. Attackers have used the fact that unlike personal computers these special-purpose devices (so called SOHO – Small Office Home Office) have no antivirus protection and the common user has no chance of finding out that a device has been attacked and misused.
Attackers have broken in using a producer preset password and they are ready to manipulate users´ data which passes through these devices. The principal threat includes the acquiring of sensitive data such as access codes to bank accounts, e-mail boxes, passwords to different services, social networks and other personal data.
Users´ communications are redirected to specially prepared servers which interception users´ data. This large network is probably ready to mount a massive attack on a selected target. The network of the devices (botnet) under investigation has been named Chuck Norris. Every single electronic device connected to an external computer network is considered a potential entrance to a flat or office, and that´s why it requires careful protection. Experts from the Ministry of Defence and Masaryk University recommend the immediate setting up of new, powerful login credentials for modems and wireless access points to home internet, and the disabling remote access to administration of these devices from an external net.