DOJ, FBI delete malware from more than 4,000 infected computers
Source: WGAL-TV Lancaster, PA
Updated: 6:00 PM EST Jan 14, 2025
Malicious software is just one of the ways hackers can steal data or cause damage to your electronic devices, but two federal agencies undertook major steps to combat it.
The Department of Justice and FBI said they deleted malware from thousands of infected computers during a months-long law enforcement operation alongside international partners.
Court documents allege the People's Republic of China (PRC) paid a group of hackers known as Mustang Panda to develop a version of PlugX malware, which was used to infect, control and steal information from victims' computers. Since at least 2014, Mustang Panda hackers have infiltrated computer systems in campaigns against U.S. victims, European and Asian governments and businesses, and Chinese dissident groups.
The FBI worked to identify infected U.S. computers and obtained nine warrants in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania authorizing the deletion of PlugX. Agents then sent remote commands to each device to remove the malware. In total, the operation cleared about 4,258 U.S.-based computers and networks.
Read more: https://www.wgal.com/article/doj-fbi-delete-plugx-malware-from-more-than-4000-infected-computers/63425106
Heard this locally on the news last evening!
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Grokenstein
(5,893 posts)Good to know the Feds can just tinker with your computer at will, though. Especially with the upcoming transfer of power...
BumRushDaShow
(146,897 posts)The internet providers have an assigned range of IPs that they distribute to their subscribers so the feds know which providers to work with to do the cleanup.
The article mentions just over 4000 were affected, which is a tiny tiny fraction out of what are many millions of internet-connected consumer and networking devices.
ItsjustMe
(11,971 posts)BumRushDaShow
(146,897 posts)General Discussion = "general discussion".
(too much "news" has been posted in General Discussion where it gets lost )