CyberWire Daily FBI botnet cleanup backfires.
14 snips
Sep 15, 2025 
Tim Starks, a Senior reporter at CyberScoop, dives into the chaotic aftermath of the FBI's botnet takedown, revealing that cybercriminals are quickly regrouping. Ransomware gangs are going dark, but don't count them out yet. Hacktivists make headlines with a massive leak linked to China's Great Firewall. Starks also discusses the implications of North Korea using AI to counterfeit military IDs and highlights mismanagement issues within the DHS that threaten cyber talent retention.
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Disruption Can Empower New Operators
- The FBI disrupted a botnet but freed ~95,000 devices that rival operators quickly seized.
- The takedown unintentionally enabled Isuru to launch record-breaking DDoS attacks, showing cleanup risks.
Ransomware 'Retirements' Are Often Rebrands
- Fifteen ransomware gangs announced retirements claiming noble motives and payouts.
- Experts warn rebranding is common, so these 'golden parachutes' likely mask ongoing threats.
Largest Leak Reveals Firewall Machinery
- Hacktivists leaked ~600 GB tied to China's Great Firewall including source code and logs.
- The trove offers rare operational detail but may contain malware, complicating analysis.