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PolarEdge targets Cisco, ASUS, QNAP, and Synology routers

Researchers are ringing alarm bells about a nasty botnet malware called PolarEdge, which is zeroing in on routers from big names like Cisco, ASUS, QNAP, and Synology. This malware, first spotted ba...

Researchers are ringing alarm bells about a nasty botnet malware called PolarEdge, which is zeroing in on routers from big names like Cisco, ASUS, QNAP, and Synology. This malware, first spotted back in February 2025, is all about creating a massive network of infected devices for some unknown agenda. The tech behind PolarEdge includes a TLS-based ELF implant that sneaks in to monitor connections and run commands.

Interestingly, signs of this attack could date back to June 2023, and it appears that hackers are exploiting a known flaw in Cisco routers to make their move. A recent report from Censys suggests PolarEdge is part of a broader Operational Relay Box network, raising concerns about its potential impact. If you own any of these routers, you might want to take a closer look at your security settings.