Prolific malware and botnet operator Qakbot still operating despite FBI takedown

Qakbot malware operators, reportedly shut down by a US-multinational task force led by the FBI and Dutch police, never actually disappeared, according to researchers at Cisco Talos. They found that the hackers, who first emerged in 2008, have been distributing Ransom Knight ransomware and Remcos backdoor via emails since early August 2023, revealing a failure in the supposed takedown. Experts have said the development is unsurprising in the ongoing, complex battle against cybercrime.