In a significant victory against cybercrime, an international law enforcement team has successfully dismantled the massive “911 S5” botnet, which has been operational for almost a decade. This extensive network, believed to be the largest of its kind globally, involved approximately 19 million compromised computers. As part of the operation, authorities also apprehended a Chinese national linked to the botnet.
The huge botnet, active in over 190 countries, was rented out to hackers for various illegal activities. FBI Director Christopher Wray pointed out its global impact, mentioning it facilitated financial fraud, identity theft, and even gave access to child exploitation materials. The Department of Justice added that the botnet was involved in bomb threats and cyberattacks, causing potential losses in billions of dollars.
It was also connected to more than 613,000 IP addresses in the US. Authorities seized internet equipment and assets and took action against YunHe Wang, believed to be the botnet’s leader, and his partners, according to Wray.
What is Botnet Attack?
Botnets are networks of compromised computers or connected devices, infected with malware by cybercriminals, who then exploit them for malicious purposes. These devices form a “zombie army,” operating without the knowledge of their owners.
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents
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