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:

  • Russian initial access broker who fed ransomware crews gets 81 months in US prison

    March 24, 2026

    A Russian national who sold the keys to corporate networks faces nearly seven years in a US prison after prosecutors tied his handiwork to a string of ransomware attacks costing victims millions of dollars. Aleksei Volkov, 26, was sentenced to 81 months behind bars for his role as an initial access broker, a behind-the-scenes operator who ...

  • Three Supermicro employees charged with conspiracy to smuggle restricted Nvidia chips to China

    March 20, 2026

    A federal investigation has been launched after the US Department of Justice charged three individuals for allegedly smuggling restricted Nvidia AI chips to China. The three men were not named in court documents, however a statement released by Super Micro Computer Inc. identified those involved. The smuggling allegedly occurred between 2024 and 2025, with billions of ...

  • Cambodia: 9 foreigners nabbed in Phnom Penh cyber-scam raid

    March 20, 2026

    Eight Chinese nationals and one Malaysian were detained during a raid on a gated community in the capital on Wednesday. A joint force from the Phnom Penh Administrative Unified Command raided a property in the Borey Peng Huot development, located in the Niroth area of Chbar Ampov district. During the operation, officers seized 247 mobile phones ...

  • 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 ...