A global crackdown, known as Operation Power Off, has successfully disrupted over 27 major platforms that were facilitating Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks for hire. These platforms, often used to launch large-scale cyberattacks on behalf of clients, have now been shut down as part of an international collaboration between law enforcement agencies.
The operation involved authorities from a wide range of countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Latvia, Japan, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Romania, Portugal, Poland, and Israel. Together, they took down botnet networks operating across 12 nations, marking a significant victory in the ongoing battle against cybercrime.
As the holiday season approaches, the demand for DDoS services traditionally spikes. Cybercriminals frequently exploit the period when businesses and government agencies may experience reduced staffing or be distracted by festive activities, making them more vulnerable to cyberattacks. DDoS attacks, which flood networks with traffic to make websites and services unavailable, remain a significant threat, ranking just behind ransomware and espionage as major forms of cybercrime.
In a recent press release, Europol highlighted the growing threat and the success of its operation. The agency revealed that some criminal groups had been using legitimate tools designed for network stress testing to disrupt the operations of companies and organizations. These attacks, often carried out through DDoS-for-hire services, can cause significant financial and operational damage to targeted entities.
The operation began in May of this year after Europol received a formal complaint and conducted a detailed investigation. Collaborating with international law enforcement, Europol launched Operation Power Off to target groups suspected of being behind these services, including Killnet and Anonymous Sudan. As part of the operation, three administrators of these illicit platforms were arrested in France and Germany. Authorities also uncovered evidence linking the arrested individuals to “booter” and “stresser” services — platforms that provide DDoS attacks for a fee.
Among the domains seized during the operation were StarkStresser.net, OrbitalStress.net, and zdstresser.net, all of which were associated with criminal gangs that specialize in launching disruptive DDoS attacks. These services were marketed to individuals and groups seeking to attack rivals, competitors, or even governments for financial or political gain.
Earlier this year, Europol also led Operation Cronos, which focused on dismantling ransomware operations and seizing the infrastructure used by cybercriminals. Now, with Operation Power Off, Europol has sent a clear message to hackers and cybercriminals: their activities will not be tolerated, and law enforcement is committed to tracking down and dismantling these networks worldwide.
The success of these operations signals a significant step forward in the fight against cybercrime, demonstrating international cooperation and the growing determination to prevent the abuse of digital tools for malicious purposes.
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