Current:Home > MyAuthorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet -PrimeFinance
Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet
View
Date:2025-04-16 23:47:15
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! (52)
Related
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- A police dog’s death has Kansas poised to increase penalties for killing K-9 officers
- Illinois Republicans propose overhaul for Gov. Pritzker’s ‘anti-victim’ parole board after stabbing
- How long does Botox last? Experts answer some FAQs
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice leased Lamborghini involved in Dallas crash, company’s attorney says
- Tennessee governor accepts resignation of Memphis judge indicted on coercion, harassment charges
- Inside Nicholas Hoult’s Private Family Life With Bryana Holly
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Jazz assistant coach inspires custom-designed Nike shoes for World Autism Month
Ranking
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Powell: Fed still sees rate cuts this year; election timing won’t affect decision
- Wisconsin power outage map: Winter storm leaves over 80,000 customers without power
- LSU’s Angel Reese Tears Up While Detailing Death Threats During Post-Game Conference
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- LeBron James' second children's book, I Am More Than, publishes Tuesday
- 12 Festival Dresses You’ll Want To Pack for Coachella & Stagecoach That’re Sexy, Flowy, and Showstoppers
- 1 person hospitalized after dorm shooting places North Carolina university on lockdown
Recommendation
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
George Carlin estate settles with podcasters over fake comedy special purportedly generated by AI
Jim Harbaugh goes through first offseason program as head coach of Los Angeles Chargers
Stop asking me for tips. 'Tipflation' is out of control.
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
California enters spring with vital snowpack above average for a second year
Inside Nicholas Hoult’s Private Family Life With Bryana Holly
Love is Blind's Giannina Gibelli Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Blake Horstmann