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:
- One of the FBI’s most wanted hackers is trolling the U.S. government
September 18, 2023
Earlier this year, the U.S. government indicted Russian hacker Mikhail Matveev, also known by his online monikers “Wazawaka” and “Boriselcin,” accusing him of being “a prolific ransomware affiliate” who carried out “significant attacks” against companies and critical infrastructure in the U.S. and elsewhere. The feds also accused him of being a “central figure” in the development ...
- UK: Greater Manchester Police officers’ details hacked in cyber attack
September 14, 2023
Police officers’ personal details have been hacked after a company was targeted in a cyber attack. The firm in Stockport, which makes ID cards, holds information on various UK organisations including some of the staff employed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP). The force confirmed it was aware of the ransomware attack. The hack means thousands of ...
- 11 alleged Conti criminals hit with UK and US sanctions
September 8, 2023
UK and US authorities have issued sanctions on 11 individuals who are allegedly part of a cybercriminal gang that use Trickbot and Conti malware. The 11 individuals have been hit with asset freezes and travel bans in a coordinated effort to counter the threat of ransomware, according to UK officials. The country’s National Crime Agency (NCA) ...
- PSNI data breach: Two men released after Terrorism Act arrests
September 3, 2023
Two men have been released after being arrested by detectives investigating a major data breach by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The data was accidentally shared in August and included the surname and initials of 10,000 PSNI employees. The men, aged 21 and 22, were arrested under the Terrorism Act after a search in ...
- US charges crypto founders over alleged support for North Korean hackers
August 24, 2023
The United States has charged two cofounders of the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash with money laundering and other crimes a year after authorities banned the Russian-founded platform over its alleged support of North Korean hackers. Roman Semenov and Roman Storm have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit sanctions violations, and conspiracy ...
- INTERPOL: 14 arrests, thousands of illicit cyber networks disrupted in Africa operation
August 18, 2023
DAR ES SALAM, Tanzania – INTERPOL and AFRIPOL have coordinated an operation across 25 African countries that enabled investigators to arrest 14 suspected cybercriminals and identify 20,674 suspicious cyber networks, highlighting the surge in digital insecurity and cyber threats in the region. The networks identified were linked to financial losses of more than USD 40 ...
