Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteA U.S.–Dutch law-enforcement operation seized the domains of anyproxy.net and 5socks.net on May 9, 2025, disrupting criminal proxy services that routed customers’ traffic through infected Internet of Things (IoT) and end-of-life routers. The services advertised more than 7,000 online proxies daily, while investigators linked them to a botnet with a weekly average of 1,000 unique devices contacting command-and-control servers in Turkey.
What Operation Moonlander disrupted
Operation Moonlander was a joint U.S.–Dutch action announced in May 2025. Authorities seized the domains anyproxy.net and 5socks.net, which sold access to residential-looking IP addresses supplied by compromised routers and other IoT equipment.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Hacker News identified four charged operators: Russian nationals Alexey Viktorovich Chertkov, Kirill Vladimirovich Morozov and Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Shishkin, and Kazakhstani national Dmitriy Rubtsov. The services were believed to have operated since 2004, although that historical availability is an investigative estimate rather than a confirmed uninterrupted operating period.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Domain seizure disrupted the commercial services. It does not, by itself, prove that every infected router was cleaned; owners still need to update or replace unsupported equipment.
#1 Best Overall
- 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫/𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚 — 2.5K HD video, vibrant color night vision and IP66, ensuring you never miss a moment, day or night,rainy or sunny. With dual-band 2.4G/5G WiFi & Plug and play setup of the cameras for home security - just download app and scan QR code! No tools needed for tabletop use, mounting screws included for walls
- 𝟐.𝟓𝐊 𝐐𝐇𝐃 & 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 — Experience crystal-clear visibility day and night with full-color night vision enhanced by a built-in white light. Perfect as a baby monitor, pet camera, or security camera to monitor your home inside and out
- 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐈 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 — Stay informed about what matters most with human/motion/sound detection up to 33 feet away. The camera deters intruders with flashing lights and a siren while sending instant alerts to your phone — keeping you one step ahead of any suspicious activity. Call +1 (978) 437-5767 for expert support with setting up and optimizing Vimtag cameras, available Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (ET)
- 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐰𝐨-𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 - Communicate effortlessly with guests or check in on pets using the upgraded two-way audio feature of this indoor camera, allowing you to see, hear, and speak from anywhere
- 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 - With the mobile app, you can access the baby camera's video anytime, anywhere, view real-time footage, and even share monitoring content with family, keeping you informed about your home dynamics while you're away.Enjoy secure cloud recording with Vimtag Cloud (subscription required) for detecting people, sounds, motion. Alternatively, you can insert a microSD card (sold separately) for local video storage
How big was the proxy operation?
| Measure | Reported figure | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Proxies advertised by 5socks.net | More than 7,000 daily | Marketing figure for online proxies across countries and U.S. states |
| Devices contacting command-and-control infrastructure | Weekly average of 1,000 unique bots | Measured by Lumen Technologies Black Lotus Labs |
| Victim geography | More than half in the United States | Canada and Ecuador were the next two highest totals in Lumen’s observations |
| Customer pricing | $9.95 to $110 per month | Prices reported from Department of Justice figures by The Hacker News |
| Operator proceeds | More than $46 million | Department of Justice figure reported in 2025 |
| Availability | Believed available since 2004 | Investigative estimate reported by The Hacker News |
Lumen found that both brands pointed to the same botnet and command-and-control pool despite operating under different names. The infrastructure comprised five Turkey-based servers: four communicated with infected victims over port 80, while one used UDP port 1443 to receive victim traffic.
How TheMoon malware infected old routers
Why end-of-life hardware is exposed
The FBI defines an end-of-life device as hardware that its manufacturer no longer sells or actively supports, meaning it no longer receives normal software updates or security patches. The FBI says routers dated 2010 or earlier are likely to have stopped receiving updates, but the exact model and manufacturer support status matter more than the purchase year alone.
The infection path
Variants of TheMoon malware scanned the internet for routers with exposed ports, sent commands to vulnerable scripts, contacted a command-and-control server and could direct an infected router to scan for additional vulnerable devices.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe FBI’s May 7, 2025 advisory says the malware did not need a router password when a vulnerable service was exposed: it scanned open ports and sent a command to a vulnerable script. A strong administrator password remains essential, but it cannot repair an unpatched internet-facing service.
Rank #2
- Continuously Powered by Solar: Just 3 hours of sunlight is enough to keep the camera running. The tiny size and wire-free design allow it to be installed anywhere.
- Day and Night Clarity: Enjoy clear black-and-white night vision thanks to infrared LEDs and an f/1.6 aperture. Please note that spotlight color night vision is not supported.
- Easy Installation: Use anywhere thanks to its tiny size and wire-free design. Drill one hole, once.
- Human Detection: Al alerts you to anyone in your yard, whether family, a courier, or a stranger. Connect to HomeBase 3 for individual facial recognition.
- No Monthly Fee: One-time purchase. No monthly fees or hidden costs. On-device storage and AI for complete security and transparency.
What the proxy did
A proxy relays traffic between a customer and the destination website. In this case, the destination could see the compromised household or business router’s IP address instead of the criminal customer’s address. The Hacker News reported use of 5socks.net proxies for ad fraud, distributed-denial-of-service attacks, brute-force attacks and attempts to exploit victims’ data.
How to tell whether your router is end of life
- Identify the exact device. Record the manufacturer, model, hardware revision and serial information from the label or administration page.
- Check the manufacturer’s support information. Look for a current firmware-download page, a security-advisory history and an explicit support or end-of-life notice. A product that has no security updates or has been marked end of life should be replaced.
- Check the installed firmware date. An old firmware build is a warning sign, but a recent-looking date is not proof that security support continues.
- Ask the internet provider about supplied equipment. For an ISP-provided gateway, confirm whether the provider still issues firmware updates and can replace the unit.
If the manufacturer cannot clearly state that the model still receives security fixes, treat replacement as the safer option. The FBI’s 2010-or-earlier guidance is a risk indicator, not a guarantee that every router from that year is unsupported.
What to do if you suspect compromise
- Replace the router if it is end of life. Use a currently supported model rather than trying to keep an unsupported device online.
- Install every available firmware and security update. Apply updates before reconnecting the device to normal use when the manufacturer still supports it.
- Disable remote administration. In many interfaces this is under Administration, Advanced settings or Remote Management. Turn off internet-side management; labels and menu locations differ by model.
- Set a strong, unique, random administrator password. Do not reuse a Wi-Fi, email or other account password.
- Change the password and reboot. The FBI specifically recommends changing credentials and restarting the router when suspicious activity is suspected.
- Review settings after the restart. Check DNS servers, administrator accounts, port-forwarding rules, remote-management settings and Wi-Fi security for changes you did not make.
- Protect related accounts. Contact account providers to regain control of affected accounts and add available security alerts.
- Report suspected victimization. The FBI directs victims to report cybercrime through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Unexpected setting changes, unexplained outbound traffic or unusual router behavior justify investigation, but no single symptom proves that TheMoon is present. Preserve relevant logs when possible and avoid putting a known-unsupported router back online.
What to look for in a replacement router
The practical security decision is not simply choosing the newest wireless standard. Prioritize whether the device will remain patchable and controllable throughout its useful life.
Rank #3
- High-definition pan and tilt camera: Capture every detail in pristine 1080p HD quality, from any angle, with the Energizer Connect security camera's 355-degree horizontal and 48-degree vertical pan and tilt capabilities.
- Night Vision Equipped: Camera has 4 led lights and 4 IR lights that switch automatically depending on the lighting conditions, allowing you to see color at night or black and white in total darkness.
- Two-Way Audio: Allowing you to listen and talk to the person in the video, using the built-in microphone and speaker, or siren alarm to deter intruders.
- Flexible Storage Options: Choose cloud storage with a complimentary 30-day trial or utilize a micro SD card (up to 128GB, not included) for local recording.
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Compatible: Connects to your 2.4ghz wifi network, which is the most common wifi frequency. It does not support 5ghz wifi networks.
| Selection criterion | What to verify before buying |
|---|---|
| Security-support policy | How long the vendor promises security fixes, whether the policy is published and whether the exact model is covered |
| Automatic updates | Whether firmware updates can install automatically and how the router reports update status |
| Remote-administration controls | Whether internet-side administration can be disabled completely and whether local-only management remains available |
| Administrator credentials | Support for a unique strong password, with no permanent default credential |
| Connection fit | Compatibility with your ISP, expected speed, coverage, wired ports and household or small-business load |
These checks follow the FBI’s emphasis on active security support, available patches and disabling remote administration. Wireless speed or feature claims do not substitute for a vendor’s documented update process.
What the takedown means for internet users
Residential proxy services make malicious traffic harder for monitoring systems to attribute because it appears to originate from ordinary homes and small businesses. Lumen described this as a direct internet-security threat, especially while large numbers of end-of-life devices remain in circulation.
For router owners, the central lesson is preventive: an old device can become infrastructure for someone else’s fraud or attack even when the owner is not knowingly participating. Confirm support status, keep firmware current, turn off remote administration and replace equipment that no longer receives security fixes.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
