Alert, ASUS Software Update Is Infiltrated by Malware

The users of computer / laptop devices from the ASUS manufacturer are asked to be more vigilant when updating the software they use.

The reason, according to information quoted from the page The Verge , Tuesday (04/26/2019) states that the server that serves the ASUS software update has been hacked and infiltrated by malware.

The findings were first reported by security company Kaspersky Lab, which explained that the ASUS software update system is known to have been hacked and used to distribute malware to around 1 million computers on the basis of the Windows operating system .

This malware is known to have been disguised as a "critical" software update that was sent directly from ASUS 'servers and recognized as a genuine and legitimate ASUS certificate, making it appear valid.

So far, it is unclear what hackers have managed to penetrate ASUS 'servers, but it seems that hackers seem to have specific targets, namely users of ASUS computers or laptops.

In further explanation, Kaspersky Lab named the attack as ShadowHammer. In their analysis, targeting attacks with this kind of method is often associated with acts of espionage carried out by a country, especially using Stuxnet, which makes malware spread widely.

Meanwhile, ASUS itself still has not issued an official statement regarding hacking incidents that befell their services.

In another report, the leading anti-virus company Symantec is known to have also investigated this case, saying if there are currently around 13 thousand customers identified it has updated the malware from an official server that has been hacked.

While for ASUS product users who are in the Indonesian region, the Asus Indonesia claims to have checked this issue into the ASUS headquarter or their headquarters.

Head of Public Relations and E-Marketing Asus Indonesia , Muhammad Firman said "For this issue, we have checked the Asus Headquarter. Currently they are exploring the case and looking for a solution, "said Firman, as quoted from Liputan6.

"We will inform you after we get complete information from the headquarter," he said.

Therefore, users of ASUS computers or laptops are asked not to update their software first.

It is recommended to first turn off the automatic update system on the device until there is further clarity from ASUS regarding this incident.