Dutch Authorities Dismantle 17 Million Device Botnet in Major Cybercrime Operation

• •Dutch police dismantled a botnet of 17 million devices linked to cybercrime.
• •Over 200 servers were seized, and the botnet was associated with the Asocks proxy service.
• •Authorities emphasize the risk posed by residential proxy networks in cybercrime.

Dutch police, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), have dismantled a massive botnet comprising over 17 million infected devices. The operation involved seizing more than 200 servers located in the Netherlands that were used to control the botnet's infrastructure. The botnet was reportedly linked to the Asocks residential proxy service, which has been associated with various cybercriminal activities, including phishing and DDoS attacks. Authorities received a tip from a cybersecurity researcher, prompting the investigation. The infected devices included computers, smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices. The NCSC has warned that residential proxy networks pose a significant threat to digital security, complicating the detection of malicious activities. Users are advised to secure their devices by changing default passwords and keeping software updated. The botnet's takedown is part of a broader effort to combat cybercrime, with several similar operations reported in recent months.