Russian Business Network (RBN) - the Controversial hosting firm fingered by many as a nexus of malware exploits and cybercrime more generally - has suddenly dropped offline.

Trend Micro reports that the infamous network dropped off the net at around 0200 GMT on Wednesday, possibly after its upstream service providers pulled its connectivity. "Since then, IP addresses of RBN can no longer be reached because there is no routing for them any longer," Trend notes.

The Washington Post ran a high-profile expose of RBN's business back in October, a factor that may well have prompted its upstream providers, including Tiscali and Russia’s C41, to act.

The disappearance of RBN makes the internet a safer place, at least for now. Trend cautions that the respite may be temporary. "RBN may find new upstream providers. In recent weeks, moreover, Trend Micro has seen equivalents of RBN pop up in Turkey and Taiwan," Trend Micro security researcher Feike Hacquebord notes. ®

Related stories

• Anglophone cybercops team up to fight fraud (20 March 2008)
• Analysis Wikileaks judge gets Pirate Bay treatment (21 February 2008)
• Russian FSB 'protecting' Storm Worm gang (31 January 2008)
• Infamous RBN quits China (13 November 2007)
• Attackers turn Bank of India site into malware bazaar (1 September 2007)
• Fast flux foils botnet takedown (11 July 2007)
• First Chinese firm hit by spam fine (23 August 2006)
• MS fires armour-piercing suit at 'bullet-proof' spam host (24 September 2004)
• Spamming for Dummies (27 July 2004)
• Spam fighters infiltrate spam clubs (14 May 2004)