Google destroys a gigantic botnet

After neutralization by Microsoft numerous malicious websites exploited by hackers backed by China, it’s the turn of Google to make a announcement about the dismantling of a gigantic botnet. Called Glupteba, this sophisticated botnet targets computers powered by Windows. It has the particularity of protecting itself using blockchain technology.

Recall that a botnet consists of a network of devices connected to Internet who have been infected with malware that brings them under the control of hackers. They use this network for malicious purposes, for example to engage in spam or commit their crimes without being suspected. In all, the Glupteba botnet involved around one million devices. It was growing at the rate of several thousand new PCs per day. Its vector contamination was based on corrupted advertisements disseminated in particular via of Google Ads. Its main use was to steal user credentials and data. It was also used at mining of cryptocurrencies.

Legal action against the two operators

Google teams have succeeded in disrupting the command and control infrastructure to the point that operators of the botnet have lost control over it. Google considers that the sophisticated architecture based on blockchain will allow its directors to gradually regain control.

Hackers are located in Russia according to specialists in cybersecurity from Google. They would be two and the experts would have identified them as Dmitry Starovikov and Alexander Filippov. The firm did not stop at the technical level, the Internet giant has also launched legal proceedings against the two responsible for this network and this is a first! The complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York in the United States. With this procedure, Google hopes to deter botnet operators. It remains to be seen whether they are sensitive to this kind of attack.