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Police agencies around the world including the RCMP and the FBI say they have crippled one of the worst malware distribution networks by seizing the infrastructure behind the Emotet botnet.
In addition, U.S. authorities say the distribution of the Netwalker ransomware has also been disrupted. That includes charges against a Canadian and the seizing of approximately US$454,530 in cryptocurrency from ransom payments.
According to an indictment unsealed today in Florida, Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins of Gatineau, Que., is alleged to have obtained at least over US$27.6 million as a result of the offenses listed in the indictment.
Emotet control servers in Canada
UPDATE
Hot on the heels of the Emotet takedown announced Wednesday, the NetWalker ransomware has also been partially disrupted by an international police action.
The Department of Justice said Wednesday that it has brought charges “against a Canadian national in relation to NetWalker ransomware attacks,” while also seizing around $454,500 in cryptocurrency from ransom payments made by three separate victims.
The Canadian in question, Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins of Gatineau, is alleged to have raked in more than $27.6 million overall from NetWalker activities, as an affiliate to the operation. Affiliates partner with ransomware gangs in order to gain access to the malware, but they carry the actual attacks out themselves and pocket as much as 80 percent of the ransom in return.