Current:Home > MyAuthorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet -FinanceCore
Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet
View
Date:2025-04-12 12:38:06
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! (242)
Related
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
Ranking
- Average rate on 30
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
Could your smelly farts help science?
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds