'Operation Endgame' Dismantles Malware Groups That Infected Millions of PCs

From The Verge: The FBI says it dealt a serious blow to four malware groups by shutting down or disrupting over 100 servers hosting the attacks.

The crackdown is part of "Operation Endgame," which saw the FBI and police in Europe dismantle the criminal infrastructure behind four Windows-based malware variants dubbed IcedID, Smokeloader, Pikabot, and Bumblebee.

Law enforcement targeted the malware variants for their ability to act as "droppers," meaning they can install additional malicious code on a PC. According to the FBI, the malware strains caused "hundreds of millions of dollars" in damages via ransomware or password stealers.

"These malware services infected millions of computers and were responsible for attacks across the globe, including on health care facilities and critical infrastructure services,” says FBI Director Christopher Wray.

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