Current:Home > MyAuthorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet -Pinnacle Profit Strategies
Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet
View
Date:2025-04-15 08:44:27
WASHINGTON (AP) — An international law enforcement team has arrested a Chinese national and disrupted a major botnet that officials said he ran for nearly a decade, amassing at least $99 million in profits by reselling access to criminals who used it for identity theft, child exploitation, and financial fraud, including pandemic relief scams.
The U.S. Department of Justice quoted FBI Director Christopher Wray as saying Wednesday that the “911 S5” botnet — a network of malware-infected computers in nearly 200 countries — was likely the world’s largest.
Justice said in a news release that Yunhe Wang, 35, was arrested May 24. Wang was arrested in Singapore, and search warrants were executed there and in Thailand, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for cyber operations, Brett Leatherman, said in a LinkedIn post. Authorities also seized $29 million in cryptocurrency, Leatherman said.
Cybercriminals used Wang’s network of zombie residential computers to steal “billions of dollars from financial institutions, credit card issuers and accountholders, and federal lending programs since 2014,” according to an indictment filed in Texas’ eastern district.
The administrator, Wang, sold access to the 19 million Windows computers he hijacked — more than 613,000 in the United States — to criminals who “used that access to commit a staggering array of crimes that victimized children, threatened people’s safety and defrauded financial institutions and federal lending programs,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in announcing the takedown.
He said criminals who purchased access to the zombie network from Wang were responsible for more than $5.9 billion in estimated losses due to fraud against relief programs. Officials estimated 560,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims originated from compromised IP addresses.
Wang allegedly managed the botnet through 150 dedicated servers, half of them leased from U.S.-based online service providers.
AP AUDIO: Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet
Authorities have arrested a man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet. AP’s Lisa Dwyer reports.
The indictment says Wang used his illicit gains to purchase 21 properties in the United States, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and St. Kitts and Nevis, where it said he obtained citizenship through investment.
In its news release, the Justice Department thanked police and other authorities in Singapore and Thailand for their assistance.
veryGood! (36199)
Related
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Prosecutors seek to recharge Alec Baldwin in the Rust movie shooting
- Gaza carnage spreads anger across Mideast, alarming US allies and threatening to widen conflict
- University of Wisconsin leaders to close 2 more branch campuses due to declining enrollment
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Brawl in Houston courtroom as murdered girl’s family tries to attack her killer after guilty plea
- Koolaburra by UGG Sale: Keep Your Toes Toasty With Up to 55% Off on Boots, Slippers & More
- RHOC's Shannon Beador Speaks Out One Month After Arrest for DUI, Hit-and-Run
- 'Most Whopper
- The NHL had a chance to be decent. And then it missed a wide-open net.
Ranking
- Small twin
- Reba McEntire claims she's 'not the best.' As a coach on 'The Voice', she's here to learn
- Michael Caine reveals he is retiring from acting after false announcement in 2021
- US Rep. Debbie Lesko won’t seek re-election in Arizona next year
- Small twin
- Mississippi county closes jail pod plagued by fights and escapes, sends 200 inmates 2 hours away
- Lionel Messi scores 2 in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying win over Peru; Brazil’s Neymar injured
- Jack in the Box employee stabbed outside of fast food restaurant in California, LAPD says
Recommendation
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
Ukraine uses US-supplied long-range missiles for 1st time in Russia airbase attack
Why the tunnels under Gaza pose a problem for Israel
West Virginia teacher charged with abuse after student says she duct taped mouth, hands
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
2 foreign tourists and their Ugandan guide killed in attack near Uganda’s popular national park
Millie Bobby Brown credits her feminist awakening to a psychic
Former Virginia House Speaker Filler-Corn will forego run for governor and seek congressional seat