On 30 September 2026, law enforcement took control of KillSec’s leak site, securing at least 110 terabytes of data against further unauthorised access. The cybercrime group used the site to threaten organisations with the publication of stolen files unless they paid a ransom.
The action was part of Operation KillSwitch, an international investigation led by German authorities into around 1 000 suspected attacks worldwide. Investigators identified a 16-year-old as the group’s suspected main operator. Three suspects were provisionally arrested and eight properties searched in Greece, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Authorities also targeted the group’s criminal proceeds.
KillSec stole sensitive data by exploiting vulnerabilities and poorly secured access points to organisations’ systems. Around 500 of the suspected attacks have so far been identified as successful. This figure may change as investigators examine the evidence seized during the operation.
Read more…
Source: EUROPOL News
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- #StopRansomware: Akira Ransomware summary
April 18, 2024
Since March 2023, Akira ransomware has impacted a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure entities in North America, Europe, and Australia. In April 2023, following an initial focus on Windows systems, Akira threat actors deployed a Linux variant targeting VMware ESXi virtual machines. As of January 1, 2024, the ransomware group has impacted over 250 ...
- Police bust global cyber gang accused of industrial-scale fraud
April 18, 2024
Police have taken down a gang accused of using a technology service that helped criminals use fraudulent text messages to steal from victims. They have arrested 37 people worldwide and are contacting victims. Officers say younger people who grew up with the internet were the most likely to fall for the “phishing” scam. The technology allowed ...
- DHS: Applications Open for FY24 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grants
April 15, 2024
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Administered by the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the TVTP Grant Program is the only federal government grant ...
- More than 3 000 law enforcement authorities now connected to Europol
April 12, 2024
As of today, over 3 000 law enforcement authorities from more than 70 countries and international entities are connected to Europol’s secure information exchange channel, known as SIENA (‘Secure Information Exchange Network Application’). The platform enables the swift exchange of operational and strategic information among Europol, EU Member States and partner countries with which Europol has ...
- Northern Ireland: No disciplinary action over multimillion-pound PSNI data breach
April 11, 2024
Jon Boutcher said the error that is set to cost hundreds of millions of pounds was due to a systems failure, as he insisted he not would preside over a “blame culture” within the PSNI. In August last year the details of almost 9,500 PSNI officers and staff were mistakenly published in response to a Freedom ...
- Unveiling the Fallout: Operation Cronos’ Impact on LockBit Following Landmark Disruption
April 3, 2024
The RaaS group LockBit that has been in operation since early 2020, grew to become one of the largest RaaS groups in the ransomware ecosphere and was responsible for 25% to 33% of all ransomware attacks in 2023. The group has claimed thousands of victims and was, by far, the biggest financial threat actor group in ...