International crackdown disrupts DDoS-for-hire operations – Greg Otto
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In a sweeping international crackdown, law enforcement agencies from 15 countries, including the United States and multiple European nations, have dismantled 27 of the most popular platforms used for carrying out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, Europol announced Wednesday. The operation, known as PowerOFF, has led to the arrest of three administrators in France and Germany and identified 300 users of these illegal services.
Booter and stresser websites allow individuals to launch overwhelming amounts of traffic at targeted websites, effectively rendering them inaccessible. These platforms are widely used by threat actors due to their simplicity and effectiveness in disrupting online services without the need for advanced technical skills. The takedowns occurred just before the Christmas holiday period, a time known for increased DDoS activity.
In addition to the website seizures, authorities launched an online advertising campaign aimed at deterring potential offenders. As part of these preventive measures, ads will target individuals searching for DDoS-for-hire services on Google and YouTube, highlighting the illegality and consequences of such activities.
“We know that Booter services are an attractive entry-level cyber crime, and users can go on to even more serious offending,” Frank Tutty, from the U.K.’s National Crime Agency, said in a news release. “Therefore, tackling this threat doesn’t just involve arresting offenders, it includes steering people away from straying into cyber crime and helping them make the right cyber choices.”
The operation involved close cooperation between agencies such as the FBI and Europol, as well as national police forces from countries including Brazil, Canada, and Japan. The timing of the operation was strategic, particularly given recent reports, including one from Cloudflare, that indicate a significant increase in DDoS attacks worldwide, with the banking and financial sectors being major targets amid growing geopolitical tensions.
U.S. prosecutors in Los Angeles this week unsealed one indictment charging one defendant with running booter services.
Ricardo Cesar Colli, a.k.a. “TotemanGames,” 22, of Brazil, is charged with conspiracy to violate and violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named Securityhide.net (formerly known as Securityhide.com). Additionally, prosecutors in Alaska have indicted one defendant with being the administrator of significant booter services. That indictment remains under seal. The Department of Justice said Wednesday it “continues to work with international partners to pursue an arrest and extradition” related to those charges.
This coordinated effort reflects a broader strategy by international law enforcement to tackle cyber threats comprehensively, from dismantling illegal infrastructures to preventing future attacks through education and awareness campaigns. The crackdown on DDoS-for-hire services is part of a series of operations in recent months led by Europol and its partners, which have also targeted other forms of cybercrime, including phone phishing scams and illegal streaming networks.
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