Think Telnet is dead? Think again. We used Shodan to find over 1.2 million devices still exposing Port 23. See why leaving your Linux servers or IP cameras open is a massive cybersecurity risk.

#telnet #linux #shodan

David Bombal

Over 1.28 million devices remain exposed on the internet via Telnet (port 23), a decades-old insecure protocol. Using Shodan, it's possible to find these devices by country — China leads with 344,000, followed by Brazil, the US, and others. Even Linux servers in countries like Germany and Egypt are discoverable. The key warning: any device connected to the internet with open ports — especially legacy ones using vulnerable protocols — can be found and potentially compromised. Avoid exposing devices unnecessarily, don't open firewall ports without reason, and never allow devices to auto-configure port forwarding.

1.2M Exposed: WHY Port 23 is a Nightmare