Ukraine takes down massive bot farm, seizes 150,000 SIM cards

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Content source

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ukraine-takes-down-massive-bot-farm-seizes-150-000-sim-cards/

The Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine dismantled another massive bot farm linked to more than 100 individuals after searches at almost two dozen locations.

The bots were used to push Russian propaganda justifying Russia's war in Ukraine, to disseminate illegal content and personal information, and in various other fraudulent activities.

In a joint operation, the cyber police and units of the Ukrainian National Police executed 21 search operations in Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, and Lvivand.

They seized computer equipment, mobile phones, over 250 GSM gateways, and roughly 150,000 SIM cards of multiple mobile operators.

"The cyber police established that the attackers used special equipment and software to register thousands of bot accounts in various social networks and subsequently launch advertisements that violated the norms and legislation of Ukraine," a cyber police press release reads [machine translation].

"In addition to spreading hostile propaganda, the accounts were also used for unauthorized distribution of personal data of Ukrainian citizens on the Internet, in Internet fraud schemes, and for sending known false messages about threats to citizens' safety, destruction or damage to property."

Ukraine takes down massive bot farm, seizes 150,000 SIM cards

Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine dismantled another massive bot farm linked to more than 100 individuals after searches at almost two dozen locations.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

 

[MuzzMelbourne]

Kudos to the Ukranian's. Even with all that is going on they can maintain an apparently, functioning cyber security regime.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Same thing I was thinking.

 

[cartaphilus]

Kudos to the Ukranian's. Even with all that is going on they can maintain an apparently, functioning cyber security regime.

I would bet my lunch that some of that cyber security watchdog function might be being augmented by external forces.
Ukraine has become a nice testing ground not only for conventional weapon systems but also unconventional measures like cyber warfare. It's extremely sad that the results and outcomes are being paid in blood. But from a scientist point of view; one might as well attempt to capture as many data points, methods, tactics and procedures as possible since regardless if you do or don't, the war will continue.