Europol-Backed Operation Shuts Down Major Cybercrime Forums Cracked.io and Nulled.to
A significant breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime was achieved through Operation Talent, a Europol-supported initiative led by German authorities. This cross-border operation involved law enforcement agencies from eight countries and resulted in the takedown of Cracked.io and Nulled.to, two of the world's largest underground cybercrime forums with over 10 million users.
The Dark Side of Cracked.io and Nulled.to
Cracked.io and Nulled.to served as central hubs for illegal online activities, offering a wide range of illicit services, including:
- Selling stolen data and credentials
- Providing malware, hacking tools, and phishing kits
- Facilitating cybercrime-as-a-service, enabling even unskilled individuals to carry out cyberattacks
Authorities estimate that criminal profits from these platforms amounted to approximately EUR 1 million.
Key Outcomes of the Operation
The operation, conducted from January 28 to 30, led to significant seizures and arrests, including:
- 2 suspects arrested
- 7 locations searched
- 17 servers and over 50 electronic devices seized
- EUR 300,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies confiscated
Additionally, law enforcement seized 12 domains linked to Cracked.io and Nulled.to. Associated services such as:
- Sellix, a payment processor used by Cracked.io
- StarkRDP, a hosting service promoted on both forums and operated by the same suspects
These services were also taken offline as part of the crackdown.
Europol’s Integral Role in the Investigation
According to Europol.europa.eu, the organization played a crucial role by providing operational, forensic, and analytical support to the investigation. Throughout the investigation, Europol facilitated information exchange and collaboration through its European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT) hosted at its headquarters in The Hague.
On the action day, Europol deployed cyber specialists and analysts on the ground to work directly with local authorities. This hands-on support allowed real-time data sharing and efficient coordination during raids and domain seizures.
Europol emphasized that their ongoing mission is to connect Member States and other partners in the fight against evolving cyber threats. By offering expert advice, intelligence sharing, and technical expertise, Europol ensures law enforcement agencies across Europe can jointly tackle cross-border cybercrime.
The Growing Threat of Cybercrime-as-a-Service
One of the alarming trends revealed by this investigation is the rise of cybercrime-as-a-service, where criminal actors offer tools, infrastructure, and services to anyone willing to pay. Platforms like Cracked.io and Nulled.to made cybercrime accessible by providing:
- Automated vulnerability scanning tools
- AI-based scripts for optimizing attacks
- Tutorials on creating malware and conducting phishing campaigns
Some advanced phishing techniques shared on these forums used AI to craft personalized and highly convincing messages, making cyberattacks more effective and difficult to detect.
Europol warns that cybercrime-as-a-service allows even individuals with minimal technical knowledge to engage in cyberattacks, which increases the volume and sophistication of attacks across industries.
Strengthening Global Cooperation Against Cybercrime
Operation Talent demonstrates the power of international collaboration in tackling sophisticated cybercriminal networks. The operation saw contributions from the following countries:
- Australia: Australian Federal Police
- France: Office Anti-Cybercrime
- Germany: Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt) and Cyber Crime Center (ZIT)
- Greece: Hellenic Police
- Italy: Polizia di Stato
- Romania: General Inspectorate of Romanian Police
- Spain: Guardia Civil and Policía Nacional
- United States: Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Conclusion
As Europol.europa.eu highlights, Operation Talent marks a major milestone in combating cybercrime, effectively dismantling two key platforms that facilitated illegal activities. The operation underscores the importance of international collaboration, intelligence sharing, and joint operations to address the rapidly growing cybercrime landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates on cybersecurity developments and tips to safeguard your digital environment from cybercriminal activities.
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