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Interpol operation discovers nearly 9,000 infected servers in Southeast Asia

By Liu Hongzuo - on 25 Apr 2017, 11:33am

Interpol operation discovers nearly 9,000 infected servers in Southeast Asia

Image credit: Interpol.

An anti-cybercrime operation led by Interpol uncovered 8,800 malware-laden servers located within the ASEAN region. The discovery came along with 270 compromised websites, some which are government websites that likely contained personal data of its citizens, according to Reuter’s report.

The investigation was done jointly with investigators from seven ASEAN countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. According to The Straits Times, China also provided additional cyber intelligence.

The malware-infected servers were systems acting as command and control points for facilitating the spread of differing malware types. They included ones that targeted financial institutions, provided ransomware, launched DDoS attacks, and/or distributed spam. Websites affected by malware code were exploited via a vulnerability found in a website design app.

Image credit: Interpol.

"This operation helped participants identify and address various types of cybercrime which had not previously been tackled in their countries,” said Francis Chan, head of Hong Kong Police Force's cybercrime unit and chairman of Interpol's Eurasian cybercrime working group.

The operation was held in Singapore at the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI). Experts from seven private firms also took part in the operation.

"With direct access to the information, expertise, and capabilities of the private sector and specialists from the Cyber Fusion Centre, participants were able to fully appreciate the scale and scope of cybercrime actors across the region and in their countries," said Mr Nakatani, Executive Director of ICGI.

According to Reuters, it is likely that the operation was a response to a recent breach of MINDEF’s data, where personal details of 850 NSman were stolen in a “targeted and carefully planned” attack.

"The Singapore Police Force will continue to work closely with our ASEAN counterparts and the Interpol community to eradicate criminal activities in the cyberspace," said Assistant Commissioner Cheng Khee Boon, commander of the SPF's Cybercrime Command. "We will spare no effort to track down cybercriminals who think that they can operate under the impunity of cross jurisdictions."

Source: Interpol, Reuters, The Straits Times

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