Russian hackers are upping the ante of their cyberattacks.

The next level of cyber warfare may not be here thanks to the latest weapon being utilized by Russian hackers.

SEE ALSO: Cryptocurrency exchange claimed it was ‘practically impossible’ to hack. It was hacked.

Researchers with the cybersecurity company ESET have discovered what is believed to be the first known UEFI rootkit malware used in a cyber attack. In a blog post, ESET explains:

“The discovery of the first in-the-wild UEFI rootkit is notable for two reasons. First, it shows that UEFI rootkits are a real threat, and not merely an attractive conference topic. And second, it serves as a heads-up, especially to all those who might be in the crosshairs of Sednit. This APT group, also known as APT28, STRONTIUM, Sofacy and Fancy Bear, may be even more dangerous than previously thought.”

If the name “Fancy Bear” sounds familiar, it’s because they’re the hacking group embedded in Russia’s GRU intelligence agency that has been found responsible for the 2016 DNC emails hack and various misinformation campaigns surrounding the US elections. Earlier this summer, special counsel Robert Mueller indicted a number of Russian nationals with the Fancy Bear hacking group for their role in these attacks.

Previously these Russian hackers had deployed various methods ranging from social engineering to spear-phishing emails as the means of their attacks. This discovery of sophisticated rootkit malware being deployed takes this all to a whole new level.

This instance of malware has been dubbed LoJax as it copies portions of LoJack’s Absolute LoJack software, which is intended to find stolen laptops and remotely wipe the hard drive of a missing computer. Because of this, this rootkit malware only affects PCs.

The main issue with rootkit malware is that it embeds itself into a computer’s firmware and can’t be easily removed. Reinstalling the operating system or replacing the hard drive of the computer will not cut off the hackers’ access to the device. In fact, according to ESET, the main two options of recourse once infected is to manually reflash a computer’s memory with new firmware, which is a fairly difficult, technical process, or to just completely replace the computer’s motherboard. Basically, if a computer is compromised by LoJax, your best option is probably to toss that computer in the trash.

According to ESET, different components of the LoJax malware has already been discovered in attacks deployed against “a few government organizations in the Balkans as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. ESET’s investigation concluded that the hackers were ”successful at least once in writing a malicious UEFI module into a system’s SPI flash memory.”

This discovery should serve as a warning that the hacking threat is only escalating as malicious actors look to fool-proof future methods of attack.

While promoting her upcoming film Dark Phoenix, Sophie Turner teased the Game of Thrones finale (which caused “a lot of tears”) as one that may divide the show’s loyal fan base. 

“I think a lot of fans will be disappointed and a lot of fans will be over the moon,” she said.

SEE ALSO: Peter Dinklage says ‘Game of Thrones’ ending is like saying goodbye to family

“As an actor it was really satisfying,” she told IGN of filming the finale. “I think for everyone, everyone’s storylines — to be able to act out the way that it all ends. It was really satisfying for us. Who knows if it will be satisfying for the fans. I think a lot of fans will be disappointed and a lot of fans will be over the moon, I think. I think it will be really interesting to see people’s reactions, but for me reading the script it was just like heartbreaking…”

Turner (along with Maisie Williams) has grown up on Thrones; Sansa Stark’s arc over the series has been one of the most transformative and devastating on the entire show.

“Over the course of the series she’s been completely unaware of what she wants, where she wants to be, who she really is, and at the end of this season, I feel she is the most self-assured character in the show,” Turner said in the interview.

Game of Thrones returns in 2019.