In a major cyber victory, the FBI has successfully dismantled what is believed to be the largest botnet in the world, consisting of a staggering 19 million infected computers. The botnet, spread across over 190 countries, had been leased to hackers for various cybercrimes, including financial fraud, identity theft, and the distribution of child exploitation materials.

FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a statement on Wednesday, highlighting the global impact of the botnet and the significant violations it facilitated. The criminal activities associated with the botnet reportedly caused billions of dollars in losses to victims, including bomb threats and cyberattacks.

Authorities have linked the botnet to over 613,000 IP addresses located in the United States. Botnets are formed when cybercriminals install malware on computers or other connected devices without the knowledge of the owners, effectively creating a surreptitious zombie army of compromised devices.

In a major breakthrough, the alleged operator of the botnet, YunHe Wang, a Chinese citizen, was apprehended in Singapore on May 24. Wang stands accused of deploying malware, creating, and operating a residential proxy service called "911 S5." The service, established in 2014, relied on millions of compromised residential Windows computers.

According to the US Department of Justice, Wang profited immensely from offering cybercriminals access to these infected IP addresses for a fee, generating millions of dollars in the process. The US is currently awaiting Wang's extradition as part of an ongoing effort to bring him to justice.

During the operation, codenamed "Operation Tunnel Rat," law enforcement seized internet equipment and assets, including luxury goods worth $4 million, such as high-end cars and watches. They also confiscated over $29 million in cryptocurrency and approximately $30 million in real estate across Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, and other locations. Additionally, 22 domains associated with the botnet have been seized.

Brett Leatherman, Deputy Assistant Director with the FBI's Cyber Division, stated that the operation involved international partners, and multiple search warrants and interviews were executed in Singapore and Thailand, potentially leading to further arrests.

To aid in the investigation, the FBI has created a webpage allowing members of the public to check if their IP address was compromised as part of the botnet.

The dismantling of this massive botnet marks a significant victory for law enforcement agencies combating cybercrime. By targeting the mastermind behind the operation and seizing related assets, authorities have dealt a heavy blow to a criminal enterprise that caused tremendous harm worldwide.