Europol: Law enforcement shuts down 27 DDoS booters ahead of annual Christmas attacks


Law enforcement agencies worldwide have disrupted a holiday tradition for cybercriminals: launching Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks to take websites offline.

As part of an ongoing international crackdown known as PowerOFF, authorities have seized 27 of the most popular platforms used to carry out these attacks. Known as ‘booter’ and ‘stresser’ websites, these platforms enabled cybercriminals and hacktivists to flood targets with illegal traffic, rendering websites and other web-based services inaccessible. This multifaceted operation, coordinated by Europol and involving 15 countries, targeted all levels of those engaged in this crime.

Read more…
Source: Europol


Sign up for our Newsletter


Related:

  • Pakistan tests secret China-like ‘firewall’ to tighten online surveillance

    November 26, 2024

    Pakistan’s government has deployed Chinese technology to build what some senior officials familiar with the project are calling a new, national internet “firewall” that will allow authorities to monitor online traffic and regulate the use of popular apps with greater control than before. The project aims to upgrade the government’s web monitoring capabilities at the country’s ...

  • INTERPOL: Major cybercrime operation nets 1,006 suspects

    November 26, 2024

    LYON, France – Authorities across 19 African countries have arrested 1,006 suspects and dismantled 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks thanks to a joint operation by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL against cybercrime. Operation Serengeti (2 September – 31 October) targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and online scams – all identified as prominent threats ...

  • Internet, mobile services disrupted in major cities, including Karachi, Islamabad

    November 24, 2024

    Communication services across Pakistan are hit by significant disruptions as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gears up for its much-anticipated “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad. Major cities like Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi have reported interruptions in mobile internet and other services, causing inconvenience for residents and businesses alike. These outages are part of the government’s intensified security measures ...

  • UK: Prison layouts reportedly leaked on dark web

    November 23, 2024

    The Ministry of Justice has said it is aware of a data breach affecting prisons in England and Wales. Confidential prison layouts had been leaked onto the dark web in the past two weeks, according to The Times. A former prison governor told the paper organised crime groups could potentially use the information to smuggle drugs ...

  • Elon Musk to British MPs: I’ll summon you, actually

    November 21, 2024

    Elon Musk is beefing with British politicians again — and they’re not impressed. The X owner and Donald Trump ally brushed off a call from the House of Commons’ science and technology committee to answer questions on his role in riots that swept the U.K. this summer. Committee chair Chi Onwurah told POLITICO this week that ...

  • US charges five in ‘Scattered Spider’ hacking scheme

    November 20, 2024

    U.S. prosecutors unveiled criminal charges on Wednesday against five alleged members of Scattered Spider, a loose-knit community of hackers suspected of breaking into dozens of U.S. companies to steal confidential information and cryptocurrency. Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, said the defendants conducted phishing attacks by sending bogus but real-looking mass text messages to ...