Russian hackers are targeting Ukraine (again)
Researchers have found rogue code that could be used to launch a major attack in the country.
The bad stuff: A report from Reuters says researchers at Cisco’s cybersecurity firm Taleo have discovered malware called VPNFilter that’s infected routers and other web gateway devices in over 54 countries. Many of the compromised machines are in Ukraine.
Made in Moscow: The code bears the hallmarks of Russian malware that attacked Ukrainian energy companies’ systems a couple of years ago. It’s capable of shutting down devices it infects, or using them to get access to other machines.
Why this matters: Ukraine is hosting a major European soccer final on May 26, which may be a tempting target for hackers. Unsurprisingly, this morning the Kremlin denied any such intentions. Security officials say companies should quickly install security updates from firms like Netgear and Linksys, whose devices have been targeted.
Deep Dive
Computing
How ASML took over the chipmaking chessboard
MIT Technology Review sat down with outgoing CTO Martin van den Brink to talk about the company’s rise to dominance and the life and death of Moore’s Law.
How Wi-Fi sensing became usable tech
After a decade of obscurity, the technology is being used to track people’s movements.
Why it’s so hard for China’s chip industry to become self-sufficient
Chip companies from the US and China are developing new materials to reduce reliance on a Japanese monopoly. It won’t be easy.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.