The FBI recently led a coordinated operation that successfully dismantled the largest ‘botnet’ identified to date, known as 911 S5. This ‘botnet’ infected millions of Windows computers worldwide through fraudulent VPN applications and pay-per-install services, enabling cybercrimes to be carried out using the infected devices. Over the years 2014 to 2022, more than 19 million unique IP addresses from 200 countries were affected by this ‘botnet’.
The operation led by the US investigative agency resulted in the arrest of a Chinese citizen who was identified as the administrator of the ‘botnet’. This individual controlled around 150 servers globally to manage the infected computers and provide paying customers with proxy IP addresses associated with the infected devices. These customers used the proxy IPs to mask their identities while committing crimes such as financial fraud, identity theft, and child exploitation. The arrested individual had dozens of assets and properties confiscated as part of the operation.
Police agencies from several countries collaborated in this operation to dismantle the largest ‘botnet’ in the world. The successful takedown of the 911 S5 ‘botnet’ marks a significant achievement in combating cybercrime and protecting users from the harmful activities carried out through such networks.
