NetNut cracked as Google and FBI target 2 million-device botnet


Tech companies working with US law enforcement “significantly degraded” the NetNut residential proxy network as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt the tools cybercriminals use to conceal their activity, say researchers.

The work was carried out by Google, Lumen, Shadowserver, the FBI, and others, and marks a continuation of the IPIDEA proxy network disruption from January.

According to Google Cloud, those working on the operation believe NetNut was among the most popular residential proxy network providers and had at least 2 million devices enrolled in its botnet, comprising mainly small TV-streaming hardware. Crims often use residential proxy networks to make it look like their traffic is actually coming from legit homes and businesses.

Read more…
Source:  The Register


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Authorities disrupt world’s largest IoT DDoS botnets responsible for record breaking attacks targeting victims worldwide

    March 19, 2026

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Justice Department participated in a court-authorized law enforcement operation today to disrupt Command and Control (C2) infrastructure used by the Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid and Mossad Internet of Things (IoT) botnets. The operation was conducted simultaneously to law enforcement actions conducted in Canada and Germany, which targeted individuals who operated these botnets. ...

  • FBI is buying location data to track US citizens

    March 18, 2026

    The FBI has resumed purchasing reams of Americans’ data and location histories to aid federal investigations, the agency’s director, Kash Patel, testified to lawmakers on Wednesday. This is the first time since 2023 that the FBI has confirmed it was buying access to people’s data collected from data brokers, who source much of their information — ...

  • UAE: Up to 100 people arrested by police for filming drone or missile strikes

    March 14, 2026

    Up to 100 people have been arrested by police in the UAE for filming drone or missile strikes, it emerged this morning. Abu Dhabi Police alone have arrested 45 people of multiple nationalities for filming various locations amid current ongoing events and posting clips on social media. In neighbouring Dubai, at least 21 people, including a ...

  • Interpol: 45,000 malicious IP addresses taken down in international cyber operation

    March 13, 2026

    LYON, France – An international cybercrime operation targeting phishing, malware and ransomware has taken down more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers. Law enforcement from 72 countries and territories took part in Operation Synergia III (18 July 2025 – 31 January 2026), coordinated by INTERPOL. The operation led to the arrest of 94 people, with ...

  • Polish cops bust alleged teen DDoS kit sellers – youngest just 12

    March 10, 2026

    Polish police have referred seven suspected juvenile cybercriminals to family court over an alleged scheme to flog DDoS kits online. The youths, aged between 12 and 16 at the time of the alleged offenses, all face charges related to selling DDoS tools in what police described as a purely profit-driven scheme. Poland’s Central Bureau for Combating ...

  • Taiwan Indicts 62 Over Laundering $339M From Crypto Scam Compounds in Cambodia

    March 4, 2026

    Taiwanese prosecutors have indicted 62 people over their alleged links to Prince Group, a network designated as a transnational criminal organization by the U.S. Department of Justice. According to a report by Reuters, those indicted include the group’s chairman and alleged mastermind Chen Zhi, who was arrested in Cambodia and extradited to China earlier this year.Thirteen ...