US Authorities Take Down Coreflood Botnet, a Decade-Old Cyber Threat
US authorities have launched a major operation to dismantle the Coreflood botnet, a decade-old cyber security threat used to steal personal data and passwords. The Department of Justice and the FBI have seized control of servers and domain names, disrupting the botnet's operations.
The Coreflood botnet, active since 2007, has infected over 2 million computers worldwide. It was created by Ukrainian national Nikolai Andreev and Alexey Vinciuk, with Vinciuk being the primary suspect. The botnet was notorious for its ability to steal personal data and facilitate spam campaigns.
In 2011, US authorities successfully shut down Coreflood, leading to multiple arrests. However, identifying the exact founder or key figure behind Coreflood is challenging due to its complex network controlled by multiple individuals or groups.
Owners of infected PCs can opt out of the restraining order, but it's strongly advised to remove the malware to protect personal data. The seizure of servers and domain names is a significant blow to the Coreflood botnet, but users must remain vigilant against evolving cyber threats.
