US officials say an army of 19 million infected computers enabled fraud, identity theft and child exploitation.
United States authorities announced the dismantling of a global network of 19 million infected computers used to facilitate and cover up cybercrimes, including fraud, identity theft and child exploitation.
Yunhe Wang, 35, was arrested on Friday for allegedly running the botnet known as “911 S5,” the US Department of Justice said on Wednesday.
It is alleged that Wang ran the botnet that included infected IP addresses in more than 190 countries over an eight-year period starting in 2014, generating millions of dollars by offering cybercriminals access to the network for a fee.
It is alleged that Wang generated $99 million through the scheme, using his ill-gotten gains to buy luxury cars and real estate in the US, Saint Kitts and Nevis, China, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
Wang allegedly spread his malware through virtual private network (VPN) programs such as MaskVPN and DewVPN and pay-per-install services that bundled his malware with other program files, including pirated versions of licensed software, according to court documents.
Justice Department officials said they seized assets valued at approximately $30 million and identified additional confiscatable assets worth approximately $30 million as part of the operation, which was carried out in coordination with law enforcement authorities in Singapore. Thailand and Germany.
“This Department of Justice-led operation brought together law enforcement partners from around the world to dismantle 911 S5, a botnet that facilitated cyberattacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats and breaches of export,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.
“This case makes clear that the long arm of the law extends beyond borders and into the deepest shadows of the dark web, and the Department of Justice will never stop fighting to hold cybercriminals accountable,” Garland added.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said the dismantled network was “probably the largest botnet in the world.”
“This operation demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to protect American businesses and the American people, and we will work tirelessly to unmask and arrest the cybercriminals who profit from this illegal activity,” Wray said in a statement. .
Wang faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
If convicted of all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
