Major breakthrough from Operation PowerOFF
In a sweeping international effort, law enforcement agencies from 15 countries have successfully dismantled 27 DDoS-for-hire services, commonly referred to as “booters” or “stressers.” These platforms, which utilize botnets on compromised devices, enable paying customers to launch disruptive DDoS attacks against selected online targets. This operation, known as ‘Operation PowerOFF,’ was coordinated by Europol and marks a significant stride in the global fight against cybercrime.
The crackdown resulted in the arrest of several administrators who operated these illicit platforms and the identification of 300 users of these services. Notably, websites such as zdstresser.net, orbitalstress.net, and starkstresser.net were among those taken down, now displaying seizure notices to visitors.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch police played a crucial role, arresting four men aged between 22-26. These individuals are now facing prosecution, with one accused of conducting 4,169 DDoS attacks, while the others carried out hundreds. Additionally, approximately 200 people in the Netherlands suspected of using these services have been identified. Many will receive direct warnings, either through letters or officer visits, and some will face prosecution based on the scale of their activities.
Europol has emphasized that the success of these operations was greatly aided by its analytical support, crypto-tracing, and various forms of forensic investigation provided by specialists at the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT).
Adding to the momentum, just last month, Operation PowerOFF delivered another significant blow to the DDoS-for-hire ecosystem with the seizure of Dstat.cc, one of the largest platforms of its kind, and the arrest of two suspects closely linked to it. This ongoing series of actions sends a clear message about the international community’s resolve to combat cyber threats and protect digital spaces.
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