Ethical Hacking News
A Global Mastermind Brought to Justice: The Fall of RapperBot, a Mega DDoS-for-Hire Racket
US law enforcement has dismantled one of the world's most powerful DDoS botnets, Eleven Eleven Botnet or CowBot, in what's being hailed as an outstanding success story in the fight against cybercrime. With its capabilities rivaling 6 Tbps and attacks launched against a wide range of targets including US government networks and social media platforms, the takedown marks another significant milestone in efforts to tackle the growing threat of DDoS-for-hire operations.
Ethan Foltz, 22, was arrested and charged with aiding and abetting computer intrusions for operating the Eleven Eleven Botnet (CowBot). The botnet launched a massive DDoS attack campaign against 18,000 victims across over 80 countries. Cloud providers like AWS, Akamai, Cloudflare, and others played a crucial role in identifying and dismantling the malicious infrastructure. RapperBot was considered one of the most powerful DDoS botnets ever, capable of generating attacks averaging over 2-3 terabits per second. The operation's success highlights the importance of international cooperation between governments, cloud providers, and cybersecurity organizations in combating cybercrime.
The cybercrime world has just experienced a significant blow as Ethan Foltz, 22, of Eugene, Oregon, and one of the most notorious botnet operators in recent history, was arrested and charged with aiding and abetting computer intrusions. The botnet in question, known as Eleven Eleven Botnet or CowBot, is widely regarded as "one of the most powerful DDoS botnets to ever exist." Its rampage began this year, unleashing a staggering 370,000 attacks against 18,000 victims across over 80 countries.
The RapperBot, also referred to as Mirai-spawned botnet, was a masterclass in cybercrime infrastructure, leveraging the power of the internet to launch devastating denial-of-service (DoS) campaigns. Its capabilities were so formidable that it posed "a direct threat" to the Department of Defense, prompting law enforcement agencies around the world to join forces and bring down its operations.
The takedown was part of a massive international effort called Operation PowerOFF, led by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service in collaboration with various government agencies and cloud providers. These organizations collectively identified and dismantled malicious infrastructure before it could be used to unleash further attacks. The role of cloud providers such as AWS, Akamai, Cloudflare, Google, DigitalOcean, Flashpoint, PayPal, and Unit 221B was pivotal in this operation, utilizing their threat detection tools and network visibility to support the legal efforts.
The sheer scale and destructive potential of RapperBot should not be underestimated. The botnet could generate attacks averaging over 2-3 terabits per second (Tbps) with a single attack potentially costing victims anywhere from $500 to $10,000 depending on the duration and intensity of the assault. This was fueled by an 'on-demand rental model' which made it a prized tool in the cybercrime underground.
Prosecutors described Eleven Eleven Botnet as "one of the most powerful DDoS botnets to ever exist," with its firepower rivaling 6 Tbps during one notable attack. The operation's reach spanned both public and defense-related services, including social media platforms and Chinese gambling outfits. These targets were often pressured for extortion payments.
In response to RapperBot's activities, US Attorney Michael Heyman praised the investigative work as "outstanding." DCIS Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis warned that such operations pose significant risks to critical infrastructure and emphasized the importance of vigilance among would-be cybercriminals.
The dismantling of RapperBot serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle between those who seek to exploit vulnerabilities in the digital world for their gain, and law enforcement agencies determined to protect the public from these threats. It also underscores the significance of collaboration between governments, cloud providers, and cybersecurity organizations in tackling such complex cybercrime challenges.
In conclusion, the takedown of RapperBot marks a significant milestone in efforts to combat DDoS-for-hire operations, highlighting both the industrial scale of these attacks and the power of international cooperation. As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and proactive in our pursuit of justice against cybercrime operators.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-Global-Mastermind-Brought-to-Justice-The-Fall-of-RapperBot-a-Mega-DDoS-for-Hire-Racket-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/08/21/rapperbot_seized/
Published: Thu Aug 21 09:43:37 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
