FBI Disrupts Russian Router Hijacking Operation Compromised Thousands of Users

Cybersecuritynews •Abinaya • April 8, 2026

The U.S. Justice Department and the FBI have successfully dismantled a massive cyberespionage network in a court-authorized takedown dubbed “Operation Masquerade.” Announced on April 7, 2026, the technical operation neutralized thousands of compromised small office/ office (SOHO) routers that were hijacked by Russian military intelligence to spy on global targets. The disruption targeted a hacking […]

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APT28 Exploits Vulnerable Routers for Global DNS Hijacking Campaign Russian cyber group APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, has been exploiting vulnerabilities in TP-Link and MikroTik routers to conduct large-scale DNS hijacking operations. This campaign, which has affected over 18,000 devices across 120 countries, allows attackers to intercept internet traffic and steal sensitive information, including passwords and access tokens. The group has been leveraging known vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2023-50224, to modify DNS settings and redirect users to malicious servers. The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI recently announced the takedown of a significant portion of this infrastructure in an operation dubbed 'Operation Masquerade.' The attacks have primarily targeted military, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. Authorities are urging users to update their devices and follow security best practices to mitigate risks. The NCSC and Microsoft have issued advisories detailing the ongoing threat and the need for immediate action. 100 sources 78

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Operation Masquerade