Current:Home > MyAuthorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet -EquityZone
Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet
View
Date:2025-04-17 03:46:56
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! (64938)
Related
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Impact of Hollywood strikes being felt across the pond
- Impact of Hollywood strikes being felt across the pond
- Job openings fall to lowest level in 2 years as demand for workers cools
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Mar-a-Lago property manager is the latest in line of Trump staffers ensnared in legal turmoil
- US opens safety probe into complaints from Tesla drivers that they can lose steering control
- U.S. COVID hospitalizations climb for second straight week. Is it a summer surge?
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Who else is favored to win 2023 World Cup if USWNT gets eliminated in group stage?
Ranking
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Multiple people taken to hospitals after commercial building fire in Phoenix suburb
- Alaska police shoot and kill 'extremely agitated' black bear after it charged multiple people
- Miami is Used to Heat, but Not Like This
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Politicians aren't grasping college sports' real problems, so here's some help
- Bed Bath & Beyond is back, this time as an online retailer
- Elon Musk, X Corp. threatens lawsuit against anti-hate speech group
Recommendation
Intellectuals vs. The Internet
22-month-old girl killed after dresser tips over, trapping her
Alaska police shoot and kill 'extremely agitated' black bear after it charged multiple people
Western Michigan man gets life for striking woman with pickup, leaving body in woods
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Bo Bichette slams on brakes, tweaks right knee on basepaths
Mar-a-Lago property manager is the latest in line of Trump staffers ensnared in legal turmoil
Mandy Moore Calls 2-Year-Old Son Gus a Champ Amid Battle With Crazy Rash