This alert may not be shared outside your organization, Do Not Repost or send, place on other websites, List servers, or send to others via email, including other associations or parties. Members and Law enforcement use only. Contact us for any permissions. To do otherwise will result in the loss of membership.
Complete Story
01/11/2026
Who Benefited from the Aisuru and Kimwolf Botnets?
Krebs on Security
Our first story of 2026 revealed how a destructive new botnet called Kimwolf has infected more than two million devices by mass-compromising a vast number of unofficial Android TV streaming boxes. Today, we’ll dig through digital clues left behind by the hackers, network operators and services that appear to have benefitted from Kimwolf’s spread.
On Dec. 17, 2025, the Chinese security firm XLab published a deep dive on Kimwolf, which forces infected devices to participate in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and to relay abusive and malicious Internet traffic for so-called “residential proxy” services.
The software that turns one’s device into a residential proxy is often quietly bundled with mobile apps and games. Kimwolf specifically targeted residential proxy software that is factory installed on more than a thousand different models of unsanctioned Android TV streaming devices. Very quickly, the residential proxy’s Internet address starts funneling traffic that is linked to ad fraud, account takeover attempts and mass content scraping.
More Info
Alerts
The FRPA alert system distinguishes us from other groups by gathering and providing information to law enforcement, retailers AND financial institutions.
more information
Resources
Your electronic library to help in fighting financial fraud for all of our partners.
more information