FBI Issues Urgent Directive to Replace Outdated Wi-Fi Routers Amid National Security Concerns

The FBI warns that 12 Linksys and Cisco router models are being hijacked by hackers. Learn why federal officials say it is time to upgrade your hardware.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 8, 2026, 2:36 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from BGR

Federal Authorities Flag Vulnerable Networking Hardware

The FBI has issued an urgent security alert targeting American households and small businesses still utilizing legacy networking equipment. The agency’s flash notice identifies a dozen specific router models that have reached end-of-life (EOL) status, meaning they are no longer supported by manufacturers with critical firmware updates or security patches. These "zombie" devices have become primary targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit known vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to private networks.

Malware Exploitation and the Rise of Global Botnets

According to the FBI, threat actors are leveraging outdated remote management software on these legacy devices to bypass administrative passwords and inject malware. Once a router is compromised, it is often integrated into a botnet—a network of infected devices used to launch coordinated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks or to act as proxy servers for criminal activity. In some cases, this malware can open network ports to siphon unencrypted sensitive information, including account credentials and personal data, without the user’s knowledge.

The List of Affected Hardware

The warning primarily focuses on hardware from Linksys, along with a specific model from Cisco. The agency notes that because these devices lack modern encryption standards and can no longer be patched against evolving threats, they remain permanently vulnerable. Beyond security risks, experts point out that many of these older units operate solely on the 2.4GHz band, which creates significant performance bottlenecks in modern high-speed internet environments.