Elite Russian hackers are hijacking British internet users' traffic

Elite Russian hackers are hijacking British internet users' trafficThe UK's National Cyber Security Centre warns that Russian hackers are breaking into routers and covertly rerouting users' internet traffic through malicious servers under their controlNewsEliana Nunes News Reporter09:17, 08 Apr 2026Updated 09:18, 08 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThe UK's National Cyber Security Centre has published a new advisory warning of 'Russian malicious cyber activity'(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)Elite Russian hackers are breaking into routers commonly used in Britain and accessing users' personal data, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) has warned.‌The Russian state-linked hacker group APT28 then covertly reroutes users' internet traffic through malicious servers under their control, according to the NCSC.‌The new advisory warned on Tuesday that APT28 has exploited vulnerable internet routers to enable Domain Name System (DNS) hijacking operations, enabling the hackers to intercept traffic and harvest login credentials, including passwords and access tokens from personal web and email services.‌View 2 ImagesAPT28 has been linked by the UK to the GRU, or Russian military intelligence, Military Unit 26165(Image: Getty Images)READ MORE: Putin 'will unleash nuclear strike' as Russian oligarch issues one-month warningREAD MORE: Donald Trump blasted after Iran ceasefire for 'desperately searching for any exit'The DNS process - which allows users to reach websites by typing familiar addresses - is interfered with to covertly send users to malicious websites designed to steal login details or other sensitive information. The security group said the activity is "likely opportunistic in nature", with the hackers casting a wide net to reach many potential victims before narrowing in on targets of intelligence interest as the attack develops.‌Paul Chichester, NCSC director of operations, said: "This ac...