A Canadian man is facing federal charges in Alaska in connection with what investigators describe as a massive global cybercrime operation involving a botnet used to launch distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Federal prosecutors say 23-year-old Jacob Butler of Ottawa, Canada, has been charged with operating the KimWolf botnet, a DDoS-for-hire service that allegedly infected more than one million internet-connected devices worldwide, including devices in Alaska.
According to court documents, Butler — also known online as “Dort” — was arrested in Ottawa by Canadian authorities following coordination with U.S. investigators and an extradition warrant.
Investigators say the KimWolf botnet targeted internet-connected devices such as digital photo frames and web cameras, turning them into compromised systems that could be used in cyberattacks.
Authorities allege the botnet operated as a “cybercrime as a service” platform, allowing customers to pay for access to infected devices and launch denial-of-service attacks against computers and servers around the world, including Department of Defense networks.
Some victims reportedly suffered financial losses exceeding one million dollars.
Federal authorities say the investigation linked Butler to the botnet through IP addresses, online account information, transaction records, and messaging applications.
Butler is charged with aiding and abetting computer intrusion and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
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