Alleged Kimwolf Botmaster ‘Dort’ Arrested, Charged in U.S. and Canada – Krebs on Security
Alleged Kimwolf Botmaster ‘Dort’ Arrested, Charged in U.S. and Canada – Krebs on Security
Publish Date: 2026-05-21 18:11:09
Source Domain: krebsonsecurity.com
Canadian authorities arrested 23-year-old Jacob Butler, also known as “Dort,” for operating the Kimwolf botnet, which infected and exploited millions of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices to perform massive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, causing up to nearly 30 terabits of data to overwhelm targets. The botnet allegedly facilitated financial and network-based attacks, impacting entities including the Department of Defense, leading to significant financial losses exceeding millions of dollars. Law enforcement, including U.S., Canadian, and European authorities, coordinated to dismantle the botnet infrastructure and arrest Butler in Ottawa. He now faces charges in both Canada and the U.S. and could be extradited to face serious criminal hacking charges that could potentially result in a lengthy prison sentence.
Key Points:
– Jacob Butler was arrested in Canada for operating the Kimwolf botnet, which was responsible for massive and record-breaking DDoS attacks.
– Butler’s botnet affected millions of IoT devices and caused financial losses estimated at over one million dollars for some victims.
– International law enforcement cooperation resulted in seizing the botnet infrastructure and Butler’s arrest and current custody pending an initial court hearing.
– Butler also allegedly engaged in swatting and other cybercrimes, leading to his identification and unmasking by KrebsOnSecurity.
– If prosecuted in the United States, Butler faces up to 10 years in prison, though potential mitigations could reduce the sentence.
