Global Malware Network Mastermind Arrested, $5.9 Billion Stolen
Law enforcement agencies from around the world have successfully shut down a global malware network responsible for stealing a staggering $5.9 billion (£4.65 billion), the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
The DOJ, in collaboration with the FBI and other international agencies, took down what they believe to be “likely the world’s largest botnet ever.” The mastermind behind this elaborate scheme is Chinese national YunHe Wang, who also holds citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis.
Wang has been charged with a slew of crimes, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. If convicted on all counts, he could face a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison.
According to the indictment, Wang and his accomplices operated the botnet, known as 911 S5, from approximately 150 servers worldwide between 2014 and 2022. This network infiltrated over 19 million Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in nearly 200 countries, enabling a wide range of criminal activities.
The botnet was used to carry out cyber attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations. The US government estimates that over half a million fraudulent unemployment insurance claims originated from compromised IP addresses, resulting in the massive $5.9 billion loss.
Furthermore, the network facilitated the purchase of goods with stolen credit cards and money laundering. Wang allegedly profited approximately $99 million by selling access to the compromised IP addresses and used the proceeds to acquire property in multiple countries.
Law enforcement agencies in Singapore and Thailand, along with technology giant Microsoft, played a crucial role in the investigation that led to Wang’s arrest. Assets worth around $60 million, including luxury vehicles and watches, have been seized or earmarked for seizure as part of the ongoing operation to dismantle this sophisticated criminal network.
