FBI takes down Qakbot malware, recovering millions and dismantling botnet

The FBI has successfully dismantled the notorious Qakbot malware, which has caused extensive financial damages worldwide for over a decade.

Qakbot, a persistent threat since its emergence in 2008, has infected over 700,000 computers globally, with more than 200,000 in the United States.

The collaborative operation, named "Operation Duck Hunt," involved strategic partnerships with law enforcement agencies across several countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The operation involved a complex approach to neutralize the Qakbot botnet. By gaining legal access to the malware's infrastructure, the FBI redirected its traffic to their controlled servers. These servers directed infected devices to download an uninstaller created by law enforcement, cutting off ties to the botnet and preventing further spread of the malware.

In addition to successfully taking down the botnet, the FBI's coordinated efforts resulted in the return of stolen credentials to more than 6.5 million victims. The Department of Justice also seized more than $8.6 million in cryptocurrency from the Qakbot cybercrime organization, which will be paid to victims.