US Seizes Control of Chinese Hacker Botnet, According to FBI Director

In a significant cyber operation, the FBI has successfully taken control of a botnet run by Chinese government-backed hackers, according to FBI Director Christopher Wray. The botnet, which consisted of hundreds of thousands of infected devices, was used by the Chinese hacking group "Flax Typhoon," tied to the Integrity Technology Group in Beijing. This network of hijacked devices, including routers and IP cameras, was deployed for malicious cyber activities targeting critical infrastructure and corporations around the world.

The operation, authorized by a court order, allowed U.S. law enforcement to seize control of the botnet's infrastructure, disrupting the hackers' ability to use the infected devices. The hackers tried to counter the FBI’s actions by launching a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack but were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the takedown. This botnet was part of a broader effort by Chinese state-sponsored hackers to infiltrate and exploit U.S. networks.

This marks the second time this year the U.S. government has disrupted a major Chinese botnet, reflecting an intensified effort by federal agencies to combat foreign cyber threats targeting U.S. systems and infrastructure. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that this aggressive stance against Chinese cyber espionage would continue as a key national security priority.

The operation also underscores the growing concern over Chinese cyber tactics, which have drawn widespread criticism from Western governments.