WASHINGTON – The FBI is warning businesses and the public that Russian hackers are actively exploiting outdated networking devices, according to an FBI cyber alert . The alert says this is in an attempt to gain unauthorized access to computer systems in the U.S. and worldwide.

Over the past year, the FBI said the hackers have collected configuration files from thousands of networking devices, including routers and switches, and in some cases, altered those files to create backdoor access.

The agency said the activity shows particular interest in systems linked to industrial control networks that manage critical infrastructure.

Network devices are the pieces of hardware that keep the Internet and private networks running, acting like traffic controllers for digital information. Routers

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