Home / Technology / US, Germany, Canada Disrupt Major Botnet Infrastructure
US, Germany, Canada Disrupt Major Botnet Infrastructure
20 Mar
Summary
- Operation disrupted four major botnets, affecting over 3 million devices.
- Botnets launched distributed denial-of-service attacks, targeting defense websites.
- Most infected devices were web-connected appliances like routers and cameras.
An international effort by the U.S. Justice Department, alongside Germany and Canada, has successfully dismantled the infrastructure of four significant botnets. These malicious networks, identified as Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid, and Mossad, had compromised more than 3 million devices worldwide.
The botnets were instrumental in launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Critical targets included websites belonging to the U.S. Department of Defense. A substantial portion of the infected devices were Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as webcams, digital video recorders, and Wi-Fi routers.
These cybercriminals conducted hundreds of thousands of DDoS attacks globally, impacting computers and servers. In some instances, victims were subjected to ransom demands. This operation underscores a commitment to neutralizing emerging cyber threats, particularly those impacting national defense.
Nearly two dozen major technology companies, including Amazon Web Services and Google, provided assistance. The European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol, through its PowerOff team, also contributed to the operation, which has been targeting cybercriminals focused on DDoS attacks since 2017.
