Current:Home > Contact-usChinese national allegedly made $99 million selling access to Windows home computers-InfoLens
Chinese national allegedly made $99 million selling access to Windows home computers
View Date:2024-12-23 14:06:33
A Chinese national allegedly pocketed roughly $99 million by selling access to millions of home computers around the world — including hundreds of thousands in the United States — to cybercriminals, federal officials say.
YunHe Wang, 35, crafted malware used to compromise more than 19 million residential Windows computers worldwide, including nearly 614,000 in the U.S., the Department of Justice announced on Wednesday. From 2014 through July 2022, Wang and others ran a botnet that "facilitated cyberattacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats and export violations," Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in a news release.
Wang was arrested last week on criminal charges stemming from his deployment of malware and creating and operating a residential proxy service known as "911 S5."
The service let cybercriminals bypass financial fraud detection systems to steal billions from financial institutions, credit card issuers and federal lending programs, including more than $5.9 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims in the U.S. during the pandemic, authorities said. The scheme's nearly $100 million in profits allegedly paid for luxury cars, watches and real estate.
Wang faces a maximum of 65 years in prison if convicted of charges that include conspiracy to commit computer fraud.
The Treasury Department issued financial sanctions against Wang and two others for activities associated with 911 S5, which was taken offline in July 2022 before reemerging as Cloudrouter in October 2023, officials said.
To determine if you are a victim of 911 S5 malware, please visit www.fbi.gov/911S5.
Kate GibsonKate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York, where she covers business and consumer finance.
veryGood! (5611)
Related
- Kentucky governor says investigators will determine what caused deadly Louisville factory explosion
- Michigan to pay $1.75 million to innocent man after 35 years in prison
- Senate confirms 1st woman to lead Maine National Guard
- South Dakota House passes permanent sales tax cut bill
- Quincy Jones' Cause of Death Revealed
- Judge orders Indiana to strike Ukrainian provision from humanitarian parole driver’s license law
- Blinken meets Chinese and Japanese diplomats, seeks stability as Taiwan voters head to the polls
- Michigan to pay $1.75 million to innocent man after 35 years in prison
- LSU leads college football Week 11 Misery Index after College Football Playoff hopes go bust
- Demi Moore Shares Favorite Part of Being Grandma to Rumer Willis' Daughter Louetta
Ranking
- Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
- Detroit officer, 2 suspects shot after police responding to shooting entered a home, official says
- Kaley Cuoco hid pregnancy with help of stunt double on ‘Role Play’ set: 'So shocked'
- Emma Stone applies to be on regular 'Jeopardy!' every year: 'I want to earn my stripes'
- Just Eat Takeaway sells Grubhub for $650 million, just 3 years after buying the app for $7.3 billion
- Deforestation in Brazil’s savanna region surges to highest level since 2019
- 'Ran into my house screaming': Woman wins $1 million lottery prize from $10 scratch-off
- The Australian Open and what to know: Earlier start. Netflix curse? Osaka’s back. Nadal’s not
Recommendation
-
Taylor Swift touches down in Kansas City as Chiefs take on Denver Broncos
-
Mary Lou Retton's health insurance explanation sparks some mental gymnastics
-
Mary Lou Retton's health insurance explanation sparks some mental gymnastics
-
Lawmakers may look at ditching Louisiana’s unusual ‘jungle primary’ system for a partisan one
-
Homes of Chiefs’ quarterback Mahomes and tight end Kelce were broken into last month
-
J.Crew Has Deals on Everything, Score Up to 70% Off Classic & Trendy Styles
-
1 man presumed dead, 2 rescued after avalanche hits Idaho mountain, authorities say
-
Mary Lou Retton's health insurance explanation sparks some mental gymnastics