Singapore Arrests Alleged 911 S5 Mastermind, U.S. Seizes Service
Singaporean authorities have arrested YunHe Wang, a 35-year-old Chinese national, for allegedly masterminding the notorious online anonymity service, 911. The service, which enabled cybercriminals to bypass financial fraud detection systems, is believed to have facilitated the theft of billions of dollars.
Wang's arrest follows a joint operation between Singaporean and U.S. law enforcement. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) also seized the 911 website and supporting infrastructure. The service, powered by a record-breaking botnet, offered 'free' VPN services that secretly turned users' computers into traffic relays, building a vast proxy network.
In July 2022, security journalist Brian Krebs identified Wang as the proprietor of 911. After the service's closure, it resurfaced under the name Cloud Router. Wang and two associates were later sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for their alleged role in laundering proceeds from the services. The DOJ has seized approximately $30 million in assets tied to Wang, including luxury vehicles, bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, and properties.
911 gained popularity among cybercriminals for its reliability and extremely low prices. It sold access to hundreds of thousands of Microsoft Windows computers daily, which were used as proxies for illicit activities. Wang faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Wang's arrest and the seizure of 911's infrastructure mark a significant blow to cybercriminals relying on the service. Authorities continue to investigate and dismantle online platforms facilitating fraud and cybercrime.
