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Malware targeting millions of people taken down by international coalition

Thu 31 Oct 2024    
EcoBalance
The Brew News Team | < 1 min read

BRUSSELS: A global crackdown coalition, supported by Eurojust, has successfully dismantled the servers hosting RedLine and META, two infamous infostealer malware platforms, notorious for facilitating cybercrimes worldwide. This operation, marking one of the largest malware takedowns, targeted millions of victims globally, exposing and disrupting two major networks of personal data theft.

Authorities from the Netherlands, the United States, Belgium, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Australia collaborated in the operation. This joint effort resulted in the shutdown of three servers in the Netherlands, the seizure of two associated domains, unsealed charges in the United States, and the arrest of two individuals in Belgium.

RedLine and META had a primary focus on stealing personal information from infected devices, capturing saved usernames, passwords, addresses, emails, phone numbers, cryptocurrency wallets, and cookies from automated form data. Once this information was collected, the infostealers listed it for sale on illicit marketplaces, where other cybercriminals could purchase the stolen data. These criminals then leveraged the information to steal funds, access cryptocurrency wallets, and conduct follow-on hacking activities, expanding the reach of this digital threat.

Investigations into the malware began after affected victims stepped forward and a security company alerted authorities to suspicious servers in the Netherlands. This triggered an inquiry revealing over 1,200 active servers across multiple countries running the infostealer malware. To dismantle the extensive operation, Eurojust enabled efficient coordination among the involved countries, facilitating swift information sharing and planning.

Also read: Stay Safe this Festive Season: Protect yourself from Cyber Fraud

The culmination of this international collaboration was achieved on October 28 with a coordinated worldwide operation. The takedown of RedLine and META highlights a major victory in the fight against cybercrime and data theft, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in tackling sophisticated digital threats.


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