A global malware network responsible for stealing $5.9 billion in COVID-19 relief funds and linked to other crimes including child exploitation and bomb threats has been shut down, Justice Department officials say declare Wednesday.
The U.S. Department of Justice arrested Wang Yunhe, a 35-year-old Chinese citizen, accused of creating a “botnet,” a type of malware that connects hacked devices to networks and allows criminals to launch remote cyber attacks. .
FBI Director Christopher Wray said it was “probably the largest botnet the world has ever seen.”
According to the agency, from 2014 to 2022, Wang launched and operated a botnet called “911 S5” from about 150 servers around the world, some of which were located in the United States. indictment. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the botnet had invaded more than 19 million IP addresses in nearly 200 countries. According to the indictment, approximately 614,000 IP addresses are located in the United States.
The FBI released a Operation guide Allow users to determine if their device is the target of a 911 S5 attack and, if so, how to remove the malware.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Wang is suspected of selling access to infected IP addresses to cybercriminals and amassing at least $99 million to buy luxury cars, watches and properties around the world.
The U.S. Department of Justice said 911 S5 has also been used for fraud, stalking, harassment, illegal export of goods and other criminal activities. In particular, the botnet submitted approximately 560,000 false unemployment insurance claims targeting the COVID-19 relief program, stealing $5.9 billion.
“The conduct alleged here sounds like it was ripped from a playbook,” said Matthew S. Axelrod, assistant secretary for export enforcement in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
Axelrod added: “What is not shown in the movie is the painstaking efforts that national and international law enforcement put in, working closely with industry partners, to foil such a brazen scheme and make such an arrest.”
The U.S. Department of Justice, working with the FBI and other international law enforcement agencies, dismantled the botnet and arrested Wang.
Arrested a day later Ministry of Finance Sanctions were imposed on Wang and two others for their alleged involvement in the 911 S5. The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on three companies owned or controlled by Wang: Spicy Code Company Limited, Tulip Biz Pattaya Group Company Limited and Lily Suites Company Limited.
Wang faces up to 65 years in prison on four counts of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The charges come as U.S. law enforcement agencies try to update protocols to deal with more sophisticated cybersecurity threats.
In recent years, the United States has expressed particular concern about attempts by Chinese-backed hackers to damage U.S. infrastructure.
In January this year, the FBI announced that it had dismantled the Chinese “Volt Typhoon” hacker organization, which had been targeting American water plants and power grids.
“Today, and indeed every day, they are aggressively attacking our economic security and stealing our innovation and our personal and corporate data on a massive scale,” Wray said at the January hearing.
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