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Tag: europol

99 articles

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Europol, US GAO Warn of Looming Quantum Threat to Global Cryptography

The clock is ticking: Europol and the US GAO are sounding the alarm on the urgent need for post-quantum cryptography to safeguard global security, warning that proactive defence is crucial to protecting cryptocurrencies and more. Immediate action is needed across government and industry to address this looming threat.

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Global law enforcement officials gather around a table with a large screen displaying a world map in the background.

Law Enforcement Disrupts KillSec Ransomware Group with Global Arrests

In a major breakthrough, global law enforcement agencies have joined forces to dismantle the notorious KillSec ransomware group, arresting suspected operators and disrupting their operations. The crackdown, dubbed Operation KillSwitch, targeted the group behind a string of devastating attacks on hospitals, government bodies, and financial institutions.

Analyst 207
Law enforcement officers monitor screens and review documents in a briefing room with a large world map display.

Authorities Disrupt KillSec Extortion Group in Global Operation

In a major breakthrough, law enforcement agencies from 10 countries joined forces to dismantle the notorious KillSec Extortion Group, seizing key infrastructure and arresting three suspects behind the gang's notorious extortion spree that compromised around 500 organizations. This global operation, dubbed "Operation KillSwitch," resulted in the confiscation of 110 terabytes of data and critical servers used by the group.

Analyst 207
Police officers in tactical gear stand amidst computer servers and networking equipment in a dimly lit data center.

Police Disrupt KillSec Ransomware Group, Arrest Suspects Worldwide

In a major cybercrime crackdown, international law enforcement agencies joined forces to dismantle the notorious KillSec Ransomware Group, arresting suspects and seizing key servers, domains, and cryptocurrency wallets. The operation resulted in a massive haul of at least 110 terabytes of data, dealing a significant blow to the group's extortion campaign.

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Law enforcement officials gather around a large table in a formal briefing room, coordinating efforts to disrupt a…

Law Enforcement Disrupts KillSec Ransomware Gang Led by Teenager

In a major breakthrough, international authorities have successfully disrupted the notorious KillSec Ransomware Gang, led by a teenager, in a coordinated effort dubbed Operation KillSwitch. The operation, backed by Europol and cybersecurity experts, has taken down the gang's servers, dark-web leak site, and seized a staggering 110 terabytes of stolen data.

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US-Led Operation Disrupts Sality P2P Botnet Infrastructure

A major international crackdown led by US law enforcement has successfully disrupted the notorious Sality P2P botnet, a malware network that has been wreaking havoc for over two decades. On August 31, authorities from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and the US joined forces with Europol and private-sector partners to seize key domains and dismantle the botnet's infrastructure.

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Europol Disrupts The Com's Online Ecosystem with 4,340 URL Takedowns

In a major crackdown, Europol and its partners have taken down 4,340 URLs linked to The Com, a notorious online network accused of radicalizing young people and facilitating illicit activity. This coordinated effort is part of a broader mission to protect vulnerable youth and disrupt the online ecosystem of recruiters and extortionists.

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Europol officers in a briefing room with a large screen displaying a Europe map.

Europol Targets 4,340 URLs in Crackdown on Violent Extremist Network 'The Com

Europol has launched a crackdown on the violent extremist network 'The Com', flagging 4,340 URLs for removal after detecting sinister content that promotes self-harm and exploitation of minors. The operation, involving nine countries, aims to protect vulnerable users from coded messages and emojis that can have devastating effects.

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Law enforcement officer surrounded by seized electronic devices in a brightly-lit, formal setting.

Interpol Crackdown on Cybercrime Yields 5,800 Arrests Worldwide

In a major global sting operation, authorities in Eswatini seized 240 electronic devices, foreign currency, and a stunning replica of a Brazilian police station - complete with fake uniforms and equipment - as part of Interpol's Operation First Light 2026, which has led to 5,800 arrests worldwide. This massive crackdown on cybercrime was made possible through collaboration between 97 countries and territories, with support from Europol, Aseanapol, and GGCPol.

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Law enforcement officers in a cybersecurity operation room surrounded by computer screens and network equipment.

Europol Operation Disrupts StealC and Amadey Infostealers

In a major win for cybersecurity, a coordinated international effort has dismantled the operations of two notorious malware families, StealC and Amadey, freezing a whopping €41m in crypto assets of criminal origin. This significant disruption was made possible through the collaboration of Europol, Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office, J-CAT, and Eurojust.

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Law enforcement officials from various agencies gather in a briefing room for a collaborative operation.

Microsoft-Led Operation Disrupts Amadey, StealC Malware Networks

In a major win for cybersecurity, a Microsoft-led operation has successfully disrupted the networks behind Amadey and StealC malware, significantly increasing friction for cybercriminals and making it harder for attacks to succeed. This collaborative effort between law enforcement and private sector partners marks a crucial step forward in the fight against cybercrime.

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Law enforcement operation disrupts botnet infrastructure in a brightly-lit server room with rows of computer servers and…

Authorities dismantle Evil Corp's SocGholish botnet infrastructure

In a major win for cybersecurity, international authorities have joined forces to dismantle the notorious SocGholish botnet infrastructure, a multi-stage malware kit that had been exploited for ransomware campaigns and espionage since 2017. This coordinated effort has successfully disabled the malware's control points and seized related infrastructure.

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Law enforcement officers from multiple countries gather in a government briefing room.

Law Enforcement Disrupts SocGholish Botnet Linked to Evil Corp

In a major win for cybersecurity, an international coalition of law enforcement agencies has dismantled the notorious SocGholish botnet, liberating nearly 15,000 compromised WordPress sites and taking down 106 servers and domains used by cybercriminals. This bold operation has effectively cut off the cybercrime gang's access to thousands of infected computer systems.

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Law enforcement officials surround a dismantled cryptocurrency symbol.

FBI and Europol dismantle major crypto laundering platform

In a major crackdown, the FBI and Europol have dismantled AudiA6, a massive cryptocurrency laundering operation that helped cybercriminals move a whopping $389m in illicit funds between 2022 and 2025. The service was linked to at least 15 ransomware operations and multiple cryptocurrency theft schemes, making it a key player in the digital underworld.

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Law enforcement officers surround seized luxury vehicles in a daylight scene.

Europol Disrupts Major Crypto Laundering Service Linked to Ransomware Gangs

Europol's operation has cut off a major crypto laundering service linked to ransomware gangs, freezing hundreds of millions in illicit profits and disrupting a key financial pipeline used by criminals. The crackdown seized over €86,000 in cash, froze €692,000 in cryptocurrency, and took down 25 domains and 30 servers.

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Law enforcement officials surround computer screens displaying cryptocurrency transactions.

Europol Disrupts AudiA6 Crypto-Laundering Service Linked to $380 Million Ransomware Scheme

Europol has dismantled a massive cryptocurrency laundering operation, known as AudiA6, that handled over $380 million in illicit funds for ransomware actors and cybercriminals. The service promised anonymity, but actually took a 3-10% cut to clean and return tainted assets in just an hour.

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Europe Cracks Down on Illegal Streaming Networks, Arrests 29

Behind the scenes of cheap streaming deals, complex crime networks are at work - but thanks to Operation Kratos 2, 29 alleged cybercriminals have been arrested and nine organized crime groups dismantled. This major crackdown on illegal streaming networks marks a huge win for European law enforcement.

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Police officers in tactical gear and plainclothes gather around a briefing table and screen displaying a European map.

Law Enforcement Disrupts Nine Illegal Streaming Crime Groups

In a major crackdown on illegal streaming crime, authorities have dismantled nine organized crime groups and made 29 arrests in a seven-month operation that targeted the entire criminal ecosystem. The coordinated effort, involving 13 countries, identified 86 suspects and referred 59 cases to judicial authorities.

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Law enforcement officials gather at a modern facility with a large glass wall, symbolizing a coordinated international…

Authorities Disrupt First VPN Service Used by 25 Ransomware Groups

In a major win for cybersecurity, an international coalition led by France and the Netherlands has disrupted a notorious VPN service used by 25 ransomware groups, taking a significant blow to cybercrime operations. The takedown was made possible through a collaborative effort involving 16 countries and key partners like Europol and Eurojust.

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Law enforcement officers in a briefing room with laptops and papers, background shows natural daylight through tall windows.

Europol Disrupts Major Cybercrime VPN Service

Europol's bold operation has taken down a notorious VPN service used by cybercriminals to hide their tracks, seizing key infrastructure and sowing disruption among ransomware operators, fraudsters, and data thieves. This major win for cybersecurity could lead to further investigations and prosecutions, thanks to the treasure trove of data on thousands of threat actors.

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Law enforcement officials stand in front of seized servers in a briefing room.

Law Enforcement Disrupts First VPN Service Tied to Ransomware Attacks

In a major cybercrime crackdown, law enforcement agencies have dismantled a notorious VPN service used by ransomware attackers, seizing 33 servers and taking its domains offline in a coordinated operation across 27 countries. The takedown of First VPN, a so-called "no-logs" provider, has dealt a significant blow to threat actors behind ransomware and data theft campaigns.

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Law enforcement officers in a formal setting with seized computer equipment.

Europol Disrupts Albanian Investment Fraud Ring

In a major crackdown on investment scams, Europol and international authorities have dismantled a sophisticated Albanian investment fraud ring, arresting 10 suspects and seizing nearly €900,000 and 443 computers. The alleged scammers are accused of swindling victims out of at least €50m through their professionalized operation.

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Police officers in tactical gear stand outside a call centre during a daytime raid in Tirana, Albania.

Police Disrupt €50 Million Crypto Investment Fraud Ring

A massive €50 million crypto investment fraud ring has been dismantled thanks to a joint investigation by Austrian and Albanian authorities, supported by Europol and Eurojust, resulting in the arrest of 10 suspects and the seizure of cash and electronic devices. The alleged scammers, operating from call centres in Albania, left a trail of financial devastation across Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain, Canada, and the UK.

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Shattered computer screen reflects globe amidst stormy cityscape and tangled cables.

FBI and Europol Disrupt Global DDoS-For-Hire Networks

In a major crackdown, the FBI and Europol joined forces to dismantle global DDoS-for-hire networks, seizing infrastructure, detaining suspects, and warning those who've used these malicious services. The operation, dubbed Operation PowerOff, marks a significant blow to those behind these anonymous internet attacks.

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