Feds Dismantle Botnets That Launched The Largest DDoS Attacks Ever Recorded

Law enforcement agencies have scored a major win against the world’s most predatory botnet operations, dismantling the infrastructure of four major networks responsible for some of the most aggressive cyberattacks in internet history. The coordinated operation, led by the U.S. Department of Justice alongside authorities in Canada and Germany, successfully neutralized the command-and-control systems of the Aisuru, Kimwolf, JackSkid, and Mossad botnets. 

Said botnets have enslaved over three million of Internet of Things (IoT) hardware, including home routers, webcams, and digital video recorders. Unlike older malware that primarily targeted exposed servers, the Kimwolf and JackSkid variants were particularly sneaky for their ability to bypass residential and hardware firewalls. By exploiting vulnerabilities in proxy services, these botnets managed to reach within private home networks.


While the DoJ breakthrough focused on seizing U.S.-registered domains and virtual servers, the human element of the investigation has led to significant inroads as well. In Canada, a 22-year-old man identified by investigators as a core operator of the Kimwolf botnet was targeted by local authorities. Meanwhile, in Germany, a 15-year-old is under investigation as another co-conspirator.