Mar 29, 2022 11:15:00

Ukrainian government confiscated 'five bot farms operating 100,000 fake accounts that were disinformation'

Five bot network locations where the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has operated more than 100,000 fake social networking accounts that have spread fake news since the beginning of the war with Russia on March 28, 2022. We have identified and announced that we have seized devices and SIM cards.

З початку війни СБУ ліквідувала 5 ворожих бото ферм потужністю понад 100 тис.

https://ssu.gov.ua/novyny/z-pochatku-viiny-sbu-likviduvala-5-vorozhykh-botoferm-potuzhnistiu-ponad-100-tys-feikovykh-akauntiv

Ukraine dismantles 5 disinformation bot farms, seizes 10,000 SIM cards
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ukraine-dismantles-5-disinformation-bot-farms-seizes-10-000-sim-cards/

SSU announced on its official website that it has closed five bot network locations operating in Kharkiv (Kharkov), Cherkasy, Ternopil and Zakarpattia since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

From Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine to Zakarpattia in the westernmost part, these bot farms, which operated almost all over Ukraine, totaled more than 100,000 in order to demoralize and panic the Ukrainian people. SSU said it was using its account to disseminate fake information about attacks on Ukraine and the situation of the Ukrainian defense forces.

Below is a photo of one of the bot farms seized by SSU.

According to a search by the Ukrainian authorities, 100 sets of

GSM gateway equipment, which is a communication standard for mobile phones used in Europe, and SIM cards for various mobile phone operators used to disguise Ukrainian fraudulent activities. It is said that 10,000 sheets, PCs used for controlling and adjusting bots, etc. were seized.

'Under Article 110 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, urgent comprehensive measures are underway to judge those involved in the invasion of Ukraine,' the SSU said in a statement. I did.

According to the IT news site Bleeping Computer, the official website of SSU has been offline frequently since the beginning of the war, and it is in a situation where it is busy dealing with the invasion. Regarding the announcement of this crackdown, Bleeping Computer said, 'It is noteworthy that Ukrainian cyber institutions have continued their activities at least to some extent and announce their activities every day.' The crackdown activity symbolizes a new era of war in which malicious cyber activity can no longer be ignored. '