Law enforcement agencies worldwide have disrupted a holiday tradition of launching Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks in a major blow to cybercriminals.
As part of Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing international crackdown coordinated by Europol, authorities have seized 27 of the most popular platforms used to carry out these attacks.
These platforms, known as ‘booter’ and ‘stresser’ websites, enabled cybercriminals and hacktivists to flood targets with illegal traffic, rendering websites and other web-based services inaccessible.
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The operation, involving 15 countries, targeted all levels of those engaged in this crime.
- 27 booter and stresser websites were taken down, including zdstresser.net, orbitalstress.net, and starkstresser.net
- Three administrators arrested in France and Germany
- Over 300 users were identified for planned operational activities
The festive season has long been a peak period for hackers to carry out some of their most disruptive DDoS attacks, causing severe financial loss, reputational damage, and operational chaos for their victims.
Motivations for these attacks range from economic sabotage and financial gain to ideological reasons, as demonstrated by hacktivist collectives such as Killnet or Anonymous Sudan.
Europol played a pivotal role in coordinating this international effort. The European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) facilitated operational meetings and organized intensive one-week technical sprints to develop investigative leads.
Europol also provided analytical support, crypto-tracing expertise, and forensic assistance while facilitating information exchange through the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT).
Operation PowerOFF not only focuses on dismantling the infrastructure supporting these attacks but also takes proactive steps to prevent further incidents.
Law enforcement is launching an online ad campaign aimed at deterring individuals from engaging in such activities.
The campaign will use Google search ads and YouTube ads to target potential offenders where they are most active online.
In addition to digital interventions, other methods such as knock-and-talks, more than 250 warning letters, and over 2,000 emails will be used to reach users of illegal services.
This operation is part of a continuing effort to combat cybercrime. Just last month, Operation PowerOFF announced the seizure of Dstat.cc, one of the largest DDoS-for-hire platforms, and the arrest of two suspects closely linked to it.
Operation PowerOFF demonstrates a comprehensive approach by law enforcement to tackle this threat, from dismantling illegal platforms to preventing future attacks through education and deterrence.
As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, law enforcement agencies worldwide remain vigilant in their efforts to protect online spaces and prevent disruptive attacks.
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