Security Alert for Fortinet Users: Check Your Home or Business Network Now

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has issued an urgent warning about attacks targeting Fortinet firewalls and VPN gateways. These are devices that many small businesses and some home offices use to protect their networks and allow secure remote access. Attackers are actively targeting these devices in a widespread campaign. This affects organizations and individuals using Fortinet services, particularly their firewall and VPN products. If you run a small business, work from home with company provided network equipment, or have set up your own business network protection, check if you are using Fortinet devices. If these devices are compromised, attackers could access your entire network, including all computers, files, and sensitive business information connected to it.

Here's what you need to do immediately:

1. Identify if you have Fortinet equipment. Check your network devices or contact whoever set up your network if you are unsure.
2. If you have Fortinet firewalls or VPN gateways, apply all available security updates right away. Visit the Fortinet support website or contact their technical support for guidance.
3. Review your device logs for any suspicious activity. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, contact an IT professional or Fortinet support.
4. If you use a managed IT service, contact them immediately to confirm they have addressed this issue on your equipment. For future protection, make sure any network security equipment receives regular updates. If you have business critical devices like firewalls or VPNs, consider working with a managed IT service provider who monitors these threats and applies updates promptly. Network security equipment requires ongoing maintenance just like any other important business tool. Staying current with security patches is essential to keeping your business data and your family's information safe.