Current:Home > MyAuthorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet -InfiniteWealth
Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet
View
Date:2025-04-14 02:58:58
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! (77)
Related
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Nebraska woman declared dead at nursing home discovered breathing at funeral home 2 hours later
- 'Boy Meets World' star Trina McGee reveals she's pregnant at age 54
- Woman claims to be missing child Cherrie Mahan, last seen in Pennsylvania 39 years ago
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Biden's new immigration order restricts asylum claims along the border. Here's how it works.
- A tranquilized black bear takes a dive from a tree, falls into a waiting tarp
- Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm reflect on hosting 'SNL' and 'goofing around' during 'Bridesmaids' sex scene
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Who is Claudia Sheinbaum, elected as Mexico's first woman president?
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- 'Tickled': Kentucky dad wins big in Powerball 3 months after his daughter won lotto game
- Columbia University and a Jewish student agree on a settlement that imposes more safety measures
- Student pilot attempted solo cross-country flight before crashing into a Connecticut campground
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- ‘Cheaters don’t like getting caught': VP Harris speaks about Trump conviction on Jimmy Kimmel
- Gerry Turner Confirms What Kendall Jenner Saw on His Phone That She Shouldn't Have
- Prosecutor asks Texas court to reverse governor’s pardon of man who fatally shot demonstrator
Recommendation
Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
The Best All-in-One Record Players for Beginners with Bluetooth, Built-in Speakers & More
Review: The Force is not with new 'Star Wars' series 'The Acolyte'
Why Grey's Anatomy Actress Jessica Capshaw Didn't Initially Like Costar Camilla Luddington
A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
North Carolina state senator drops effort to restrict access to autopsy reports
Coco Gauff overpowers Ons Jabeur to reach French Open semifinals
How Biden’s new order to halt asylum at the US border is supposed to work