X-Industry

International law enforcement has shut down 27 of the most popular platforms used to carry out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, Europol announced in a statement on 11 December 2024.  The operation called PowerOFF, conducted across 15 countries to include the US, UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Finland, which led to the identification of 300 users of these platforms and the arrest of three administrators in France and Germany.

Europol explained that the takedowns were timed ahead

A controversial proposal put forth by the European Union (EU) to scan users' private messages for detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) poses severe risks to end-to-end encryption (E2EE), warned Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation, which maintains the privacy-focused messaging service of the same name. "Mandating mass scanning of private communications fundamentally undermines encryption.  Full Stop," Whittaker said in a statement on 17 June 2024.  "Whether this happ

European Police Chiefs said that the complementary partnership between law enforcement agencies and the technology industry is at risk due to End-to-End Encryption (E2EE).  They called on the industry and governments to take urgent action to ensure public safety across social media platforms. "Privacy measures currently being rolled out, such as End-to-End Encryption, will stop tech companies from seeing any offending that occurs on their platforms," Europol said.  "It will also stop law enforce

One of the most used Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) platforms, LabHost, has been closed by an international group of law enforcement authorities coordinated by Europol.  London's Metropolitan Police have been working with Europol on an operation to infiltrate and close down a website used by more than 2,000 criminals to defraud victims worldwide in their latest joint operation to tackle large-scale online fraud.  Now, 37 suspects have been arrested as part of the international operation led by Eu

Europol reveals German law enforcement was behind the ‘Monopoly Market’ takedown.  Europol announced on 2 May 2023 that 288 suspects involved in drug trafficking on the Darknet marketplace “Monopoly Market” have been arrested globally following an unannounced takedown in December 2021.  The announcement is the first confirmation that Monopoly Market’s disappearance was the result of law enforcement action.

Users across multiple forums had previously expressed concerns about being victims of an e

Federal law enforcement officials announced on 26 October 2021 that a wide-ranging, global illicit drug crackdown yielded 150 arrests and the seizure of more than $31.6 million in cash and virtual currencies.  The 10-month law enforcement initiative called Operation Dark HunTOR, after the encrypted Internet tool, was conducted in partnership with international counterparts.  The operation produced 234 kilograms (500 lbs.) of seized drugs.  Of those arrested, 65 were in the US and the remaining w

Many believe that the Mafia of old has long since been active.  Not so, says Europol.  The new and improved Mafia organized crime ring thrived on violence, intimidation and $12 million in online fraud profits; all specialties of the Mafia.  International law enforcement has busted up an extensive cybercrime operation run by a gang with ties to the Italian Mafia.

The group allegedly used phishing attacks to defraud hundreds of victims. The suspects used various lures to convince victims (mostly I

Ransomware attacks remain the top cyber-enabled threat seen by law enforcement agencies.  But phishing campaigns, business email compromises, and other types of fraud that are now using COVID-19 themes are increasing.  Red Sky Alliance has members, clients, and readers from around the world and this article has been written from the European Union viewpoint, which actually applies internationally to global defense against cyber-crimes.  Our source is the seventh annual Internet Organized Crime T