Millions of Android devices hijacked as experts warn 'you're not the target, you're the weapon'

Millions of Android users are being warned that their devices are being turned into cyberattack tools without their knowledge.

Despite the growing popularity of VPNs and password managers designed to safeguard personal information, there's been an 'explosion' of attacks on IP addresses.

Cybersecurity firm GreyNoise, which specialises in helping organisations detect network attacks by identifying malicious scanning and exploitation attempts, is now warning that the risks are easy to miss.

The experts warn that 'compromises often fly under the radar' and 'you won’t know until it’s too late.'

“Your internet works fine, your streaming doesn’t buffer, but somewhere in the background, your router is participating in vulnerability scans or brute-force attacks against servers around the world. You’re not the target—you’re the weapon,” the tech giant stated.

The experts warn that 'compromises often fly under the radar'. (d3sign/Getty)

The company notes they're also witnessing the typical seasonal increase in compromised home routers, IoT devices, and other 'edge' devices.

Thankfully, GreyNoise announced a way to check the safety status of your IP address in just a few simple steps.

According to the official website: "Visit the site from any internet connection and within seconds you’ll know if that IP address has been caught scanning the internet or appears in our database of known business services.

The experts advise you to pause your VPN before performing the check.

"No signup required, no email collection—just a straightforward answer about what your IP address has been up to," they added.

With the new GreyNoise IP Check, the team said: “You’ll know if that IP address has been caught scanning the internet or appears in our database of known business services.” If your IP is flagged, the experts say 'that’s your cue to investigate.'

Thankfully there's a simple way to check the safety status of your IP address. (Sirisak Piyatharo/Getty)

They explained: "Something on your network is behaving badly. It might be malware on a laptop, a compromised smart TV, or a router that’s been conscripted into a botnet. The tool will show you when the activity was first and last observed, what kinds of scanning behavior were detected, and point you toward next steps.”

Moreover, the results page includes a 90-day activity timeline, showing whether your IP address has been probing for security vulnerabilities or has been detected in publicly exposed databases. If your curious, you can extend the security check to your parents' network at home or any public Wi-Fi to spot a potential 'hidden mess.'

This comes after a year in which both the FBI and Google issued public warnings that tens of millions of Android devices had been infected with BADBOX 2.0 malware. The FBI said the malware affects 'TV streaming devices, digital projectors, aftermarket vehicle infotainment systems, digital picture frames and other products.'