Current:Home > MyTradeEdge Exchange:Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet -NextWave Wealth Hub
TradeEdge Exchange:Authorities arrest man allegedly running ‘likely world’s largest ever’ cybercrime botnet
Chainkeen View
Date:2025-04-10 08:42:34
WASHINGTON (AP) — An international law enforcement team has arrested a Chinese national and TradeEdge Exchangedisrupted 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! (4625)
Related
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Diddy's ex Misa Hylton threatens legal action over 'excessive' force against son in raid
- Kristen Wiig's Target Lady to tout Target Circle Week sale, which runs April 7-13
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Face First
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- NCAA investment in a second women’s basketball tournament emerges as a big hit in Indy
- Alabama lawmakers advance a bill that would revamp the state ethics law
- Nicki Minaj delivers spectacle backed up by skill on biggest tour of her career: Review
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- AP Exclusive: EPA didn’t declare a public health emergency after fiery Ohio derailment
Ranking
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Hunter Biden's motions to dismiss tax charges all denied by judge
- 12 Festival Dresses You’ll Want To Pack for Coachella & Stagecoach That’re Sexy, Flowy, and Showstoppers
- Saddle up Cowgirl! These Are the Best Western Belts You’ll Want to Pair With Everything
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Watch these professional soccer players' kind gesture for young fans in the pouring rain
- Nicki Minaj Pink Friday 2 tour: See the setlist for her career-spanning concert
- This mob-era casino is closing on the Las Vegas Strip. Here’s some big moments in its 67 years
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Oprah and More Celebs Who’ve Reached the Billionaire Milestone
Autism in young girls is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. A doctor explains why.
Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends Orlando city commissioner accused of stealing 96-year-old's money
'Most Whopper
Tesla sales drop as competition in the electric vehicle market heats up
California enters spring with vital snowpack above average for a second year
Prosecutors in Trump’s classified documents case chide judge over her ‘fundamentally flawed’ order