Cyber police conducted a nationwide operation to stop the activities of enemy botfarms
During the searches, more than 100 thousand SIM cards were seized, which were used to register fake accounts. In total, the botnets numbered more than one and a half million accounts in various social networks, mail services and instant messengers. Bots were registered for spreading fakes and propaganda, pro-Russian narratives, justifying the actions of the occupiers, distributing illegal content.
The preventive operation under the conditional name “Botoferma” was carried out by employees of the Cyber Police Department together with the territorial investigative units of the National Police, the prosecutor's office of Ukraine and in cooperation with mobile operators.
As a result, the illegal activities of 31 defendants from different regions of Ukraine were exposed. Offenders registered bot accounts, from which fakes and illegal content were distributed. In particular, the posts and comments contained pro-Kremlin narratives, justifications for the occupation of Ukrainian territories, propaganda of war, discredited defenders of Ukraine or representatives of the authorities.
Also, those involved with the help of SIM cards of mobile operators of the Russian Federation registered in the online banking of Russian financial institutions, subsequently making money transfers to the territory of the occupying country.
In addition, the activity of the botfarm, which functioned to send false reports about mining facilities on the territory of Ukraine, was suspended.
During the operation, cyber police discovered the fact of “infection” of citizens' mobile devices with malicious software. The principle of its operation consisted in the hidden remote receipt of verification SMS messages in the process of registering accounts on various services.
In total, 13 botfarms with more than 1.5 million fake accounts were suspended.
In cooperation with the employees of the National Center for Operational and Technical Management of Telecommunication Networks of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, the work of 28 web resources on the territory of our country, which were used to register mobile numbers and further create botnets, was blocked.
24 searches were carried out in the homes of the defendants and the locations of botoparms. According to the results, more than 100 thousand SIM cards were seized, in particular, Russian mobile operators, more than 100 units of computer equipment, more than 150 mobile phones and about 300 GSM gateways. The removed equipment is directed to carry out relevant expert studies.
Criminal proceedings have been opened under Art. 361 (Unauthorized interference in the work of information (automated), information and communication systems, electronic communication networks), Art. 361-2 (Unauthorized sale or distribution of information with restricted access that is stored in computers, automated systems, computer networks or on media of such information), Art. 436 (Propaganda of War) and Art. 259 (Knowingly false report of a threat to the safety of citizens, destruction or damage to property objects) of the Criminal Code. Investigative actions continue.
National Police of Ukraine
