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FBI Disrupts Second Major Chinese Hacking Group 'Flax Typhoon' Botnet of 260,000 Devices

Sep 18, 2024, 05:30 PM

The FBI has disrupted a second major Chinese hacking group known as 'Flax Typhoon,' according to FBI Director Christopher Wray. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the NSA and other U.S. government agencies, targeted a botnet comprising over 260,000 Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The botnet, which was linked to the Chinese government, compromised thousands of devices, including routers and firewalls, and targeted critical infrastructure in the U.S. and abroad. The Chinese company running the botnet posed as an IT firm but was actually collecting intelligence for Chinese state agencies. The FBI announced the disruption at the Aspen Cyber Summit and noted that the operation was court-authorized. The FBI has urged the public to follow recommended mitigations to secure their devices and reduce the botnet's impact.