RapperBot takedown halts one of the web’s loudest DDoS-for-fire networks

Federal investigators dismantled RapperBot, a Mirai-based botnet linked to more than 370,000 DDoS attacks in 80 countries. Agents arrested Ethan Foltz, 22, in Oregon and seized his servers during Operation PowerOFF. The botnet unleashed attacks peaking above 6 Tbps against targets ranging from defense systems to gambling sites. AWS and other tech firms aided the effort, showing how public-private teamwork can cripple large-scale cybercrime.