FBI Dismantles World's Largest Botnet: 19 Million Infected Computers Seized, $63M Assets Recovered
The FBI has brought down the world's largest botnet, which consisted of 19 million compromised machines. The botnet allowed for financial fraud, identity theft, access to child exploitation materials, bomb threats, and cyberattacks. YunHe Wang, a Chinese citizen and accused botnet administrator, has been arrested in Singapore.
This army of 19 million infected PCs, spread across 190 countries, was being rented to hackers for various illicit purposes. The ramifications of this takedown are considerable, as the botnet facilitated financial fraud, identity theft, access to child exploitation materials, bomb threats, and cyberattacks, costing victims billions of dollars.
FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a statement highlighting the magnitude of this operation. The botnet, which was connected to more than 613,000 IP addresses in the US, was created when cybercriminals installed malware on unsuspecting computers and other connected devices. These devices were then harnessed for malicious activities, forming a zombie army whose owners were often unaware of their involvement.
Law enforcement authorities have taken swift action, seizing internet equipment and assets, and imposing sanctions on the alleged administrator of the botnet, YunHe Wang, along with his co-conspirators. Wang, a Chinese citizen, was apprehended in Singapore on May 24. He stands accused of deploying malware, creating, and operating a residential proxy service known as "911 S5." This service, established in 2014, relied on a network of compromised residential Windows computers. Wang made a profit by charging crooks for access to these corrupted IP addresses.
Brett Leatherman, deputy assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, stated that the US is actively seeking Wang's extradition. The importance of bringing him to justice is clear, and authorities are working hard to guarantee his quick transfer.
In addition to Wang's detention, the FBI and its overseas allies carried out many search warrants and conducted interviews in Singapore and Thailand. These actions may result in additional arrests and the breakup of associated criminal networks.
effort Tunnel Rat, as the law enforcement effort is known, has produced major results. Along with the botnet takedown, officials recovered luxury goods worth $4 million, including costly automobiles and watches. Furthermore, they have seized more than $29 million in bitcoin and about $30 million in real estate in Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, and other unidentified locations. Furthermore, 22 domains related with criminal activity have been seized.
To help the public determine if their IP addresses have been compromised, the FBI has set up a website where people may check for potential involvement in the botnet.
The FBI has taken down the world's largest botnet, consisting of 19 million infected computers.
The botnet enabled financial fraud, identity theft, access to child exploitation materials, bomb threats, and cyberattacks.
The alleged administrator of the botnet, YunHe Wang, a Chinese citizen, has been arrested in Singapore.
Source: YAHOO