December 11, 2024 at 11:38AM
Law enforcement from 15 countries has dismantled 27 DDoS-for-hire services, arrested three administrators, and identified 300 users as part of ‘Operation PowerOFF.’ This initiative, led by Europol, targets cybercrime involving DDoS attacks, which can disrupt online services, especially during peak holiday shopping.
**Meeting Takeaways:**
1. **Operation PowerOFF Success**: An international initiative led by Europol has resulted in the takedown of 27 DDoS-for-hire services across 15 countries.
2. **Arrests and Identification**: Three administrators of these services have been arrested, and approximately 300 customers have been identified.
3. **Impact of DDoS-for-Hire Services**: These platforms allow users to launch DDoS attacks using botnets, posing a risk of significant disruptions, especially during the holiday shopping season.
4. **Websites Seized**: Notable booter websites such as zdstresser.net, orbitalstress.net, and starkstresser.net have been taken down and now display seizure notices.
5. **Dutch Law Enforcement Actions**: The Dutch police arrested four individuals aged 22-26, with one suspect linked to over 4,000 DDoS attacks. Approximately 200 suspected users of DDoS services in the Netherlands have been identified.
6. **Future Enforcement Actions**: Users identified will receive warnings or face prosecution based on their level of activity with the illicit services.
7. **Support from Europol**: The operation was enhanced by Europol’s analytical and forensic support via the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT).
8. **Recent Related Actions**: Previous notable actions under Operation PowerOFF include the takedown of Dstat.cc and the shutdown of DigitalStress in July 2024.
These points highlight the collaborative international effort to curb cybercrime through targeted law enforcement actions against DDoS-for-hire services.