A new malware strain called BrickerBot is bricking Internet of Things (IoT) devices around the world by corrupting their storage capability and reconfiguring kernel parameters. Both strains work in a similar way, by attempting a dictionary brute-force attack on devices with Telnet ports left open on the Internet. The end result is a bricked IoT device that will stop working within seconds of getting infected. A similar malware strain first appeared in October 2015, called LinuxWifatch, took over insecure routers and executed commands that improved the device’s security.
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-malware-intentionally-bricks-iot-devices/