Global Malware Network Bust: World’s Largest Botnet Dismantled, Alleged Fraudster Charged

In a groundbreaking operation, law enforcement agencies from around the world, in partnership with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI, have successfully shut down a global malware network that stole $5.9bn (£4.65bn) and is linked to various other crimes. This operation is said to have dismantled “likely the world’s largest botnet ever”.

Chinese national YunHe Wang, who also holds citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis, has been charged with creating and operating this network. He faces charges including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 65 years in prison.

According to the indictment, between 2014 and 2022, Mr. Wang and his associates created and ran the botnet, named 911 S5, from approximately 150 servers worldwide. The botnet infiltrated more than 19 million Internet Protocol (IP) addresses across nearly 200 countries. An IP address is a unique identifier for a device on the internet or a network.

The botnet was used for cyber attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment