Story perspectives

Global Crackdown: Four Major Botnets Dismantled!

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Department of Justice, with Canadian and German authorities, dismantled four botnets: Aisuru, Kimwolf, JackSkid, and Mossad.
Aisuru and Kimwolf infected over 3 million devices worldwide, including many in the United States.
The operation seized command-and-control servers to prevent further infections.
Aisuru peaked at 30 terabits per second, significantly disrupting internet services.
Investigations continue into operators in Canada and Germany; no arrests were reported.

History

Historical Context

The FBI's 2018 disruption of the Emotet botnet, which infected over 1.5 million devices and caused $1 billion in damages, underscored the escalating threat of cybercrime. This operation followed the establishment of Electronic Crime Task Forces in the U.S. since 1995, aimed at combating such threats. The recent dismantling of the Aisuru and Kimwolf botnets reflects ongoing international cooperation in addressing cybercriminal activities.

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Story summary

The U.S. Department of Justice, with Canadian and German authorities, dismantled four botnets: Aisuru, Kimwolf, JackSkid, and Mossad.
Aisuru and Kimwolf infected over 3 million devices worldwide, including many in the United States.
The operation seized command-and-control servers to prevent further infections.
Aisuru peaked at 30 terabits per second, significantly disrupting internet services.
Investigations continue into operators in Canada and Germany; no arrests were reported.

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