Major crackdown dismantles QakBot malware network

The U.S. government, along with international partners, has successfully dismantled the QakBot malware network, a notorious cyber threat that has been active since 2008. QakBot, initially a banking trojan, evolved into a favored tool for cybercrime groups to launch ransomware attacks. The operation, named "Duck Hunt," involved seizing control of the botnet's servers and cutting ties with infected systems. The malware was linked to 40 ransomware attacks, resulting in $58 million in losses. Over 700,000 machines were infected, with more than 200,000 in the U.S. The operation also confiscated $9.5 million in cryptocurrency from the masterminds behind QakBot.