May 29, 2024 at 01:17PM
The US Justice Department, with international partners, dismantled the 911 S5 proxy botnet and arrested Chinese national YunHe Wang. Wang and conspirators pushed malware onto devices using VPN apps, creating a network of millions of residential Windows computers. Wang collected approximately $99 million by selling access to the proxied IP addresses. He faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison.
Based on the meeting notes, the key takeaways are:
– The U.S. Justice Department, in collaboration with international partners, successfully dismantled the 911 S5 proxy botnet and arrested its administrator, 35-year-old Chinese national YunHe Wang.
– Wang and his conspirators pushed malware onto victims’ devices using multiple malicious VPN applications, leading to the creation of a network of millions of residential Windows computers linked to more than 19 million unique IP addresses, including 613,841 in the United States.
– It was revealed that the operators lured potential victims by offering free VPN services to install the proxy malware, and the botnet was shut down after critical components were allegedly destroyed in a security breach, only to be resurrected as “CloudRouter” later.
– The Justice Department is serving seizure warrants to registrars and registry entities to seize several domains used by the criminal network.
– Wang collected approximately $99 million by selling access to the proxied IP addresses to cybercriminals, who used the compromised devices’ Internet connections for various criminal activities.
– The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned Wang, the operation’s money launderer, and an individual who acted as a power of attorney for Wang, as well as three entities owned or controlled by Wang.
– The FBI conducted a joint cyber operation to dismantle the botnet, resulting in the arrest of its administrator, the seizure of infrastructure and assets, and sanctions against Wang and his co-conspirators.
– According to the indictment unsealed on May 24, dozens of Wang’s assets and properties, including luxury vehicles, bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, wristwatches, and residential or investment properties, are now subject to forfeiture.
– Wang faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison if convicted on all counts, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.