Ukrainian Security Service uncovers bot farm that sells bots to Russia

By The Kyiv Post / July 27, 2021

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) detained a Ukrainian national who is suspected of setting up a bot farm to sell fake online accounts, called bots, to Russian customers.

The suspect, a local tech specialist, allegedly used nearly 12,000 SIM cards of Ukrainian and Russian mobile operators to create fake user profiles in social networks, messengers and electronic wallets, SBU said on July 26.

Using these bots, Russian customers could artificially increase the number of views, likes and comments in social media and video hosting services like YouTube.

Topics: Cyberwar, International, Internet, Legal, Legal matters, News, Social networks

About

The Kyiv Post

Launched in 1995, Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s leading English-language newspaper, produced by a team of Western and Ukrainian journalists. Over the years, the weekly newspaper has led the charge for a free press in Ukraine, and has played roles in the Georgiy Gongadze scandal, the Orange Revolution and other significant Ukrainian events. The Kyiv Post’s IT coverage is sponsored by Looksery, Ciklum, Steltec Capital and SoftServe. The content is independent of the donors.

http://www.kyivpost.com/