The world's largest bot network has been dismantled, the alleged Chinese mastermind has been arrested, and $29 million in cryptocurrency has been seized.

A Chinese citizen has been arrested in Singapore, suspected of organizing a large botnet used to steal billions of dollars. This network, known as "911 S5," is likely one of the most extensive in the world, affecting computers in nearly 200 countries and facilitating numerous crimes such as financial fraud, identity theft, and child exploitation. This was stated by FBI Director Christopher Wray. According to investigators, Yunhe Wang earned at least $99 million by selling access to this network to criminals who carried out their schemes.

A botnet is a combination of infected computers that hackers control remotely to carry out mass cyberattacks and fraud. These "zombie machines" are under the control of criminals and can be used both to collect personal information and to monitor user activity and install malicious applications. At the age of 35, Wang was arrested in Singapore last week, and $29 million in cryptocurrency was seized from him, reported Bret Literman, deputy assistant director of the FBI's cyber operations.

According to the indictment filed in Texas, the botnet has been used for theft since 2014.billions of dollarsat financial institutions, credit card issuers, and loan users, as well as in government lending programs. There were reportedly about613,000infected computers only inU.S.U.S.

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Attorney General Merrick Garland noted that criminals using a botnet committed about5.9 billion dollars in fraudincluding560,000fake unemployment insurance claims.

According to prosecutors, Wang directed his millions towards purchasing21 propertiesIn the United Arab Emirates, the USA, China, Singapore, Thailand, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, where he also obtained citizenship. Among his assets are cars such as a Rolls-Royce, two BMWs, and a Ferrari, as well as luxury watches that may be seized during the process. If he is found guilty, he could face up to65 years oldimprisonment on charges of computer fraud and money laundering.

The operation to arrest Vanga and neutralize the botnet was carried out by the authorities of the USA, Singapore, Thailand, and Germany, according to the FBI. "The activities he is accused of look like they were taken from a Hollywood script," said Matthew S. Axelrod from the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security. "The plan to sell access to millions of infected computers worldwide, which allowed criminals to steal billions of dollars, threaten with bombs, and distribute materials on child exploitation, is simply a shocking example of global fraud."