The Silent Threat of End-of-Life Tech—and How Cybercriminals Exploit Trust to Attack
As we observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, it's time to confront a growing vulnerability that affects everything from industrial systems to personal devices: end-of-life (EOL) technology . These outdated systems are not just inefficient—they’re dangerous. Worse, cyber threat actors are getting smarter, using trusted U.S. network traffic as camouflage to launch attacks that bypass traditional defenses. What Is End-of-Life Technology? When a device or software reaches EOL, it means the manufacturer has stopped providing: Security patches Bug fixes Technical support This leaves the system exposed to known vulnerabilities—many of which are publicly documented and easily exploited. How Cybercriminals Exploit EOL Devices Threat actors actively scan for outdated systems and use them as entry points. Once inside, they: Deploy ransomware Steal sensitive data Use compromised devices as launchpads for lateral movement across networks According to the National Cybersecurity A...
