Operation Cronos and the Takedown of LockBit: A Cybersecurity Milestone

Running short on time but still want to stay in the know? Well, we’ve got you covered! We’ve condensed all the key takeaways into a handy audio summary. Introduction LockBit aka ABCD Ransomware, one of the most destructive ransomware groups in history, was dismantled in early 2024 through a...

⚡ Weekly Recap: Zero-Day Exploits, Developer Malware, IoT Botnets, and AI-Powered Scams

What do a source code editor, a smart billboard, and a web server have in common? They've all become launchpads for attacks—because cybercriminals are rethinking what counts as "infrastructure." Instead of chasing high-value targets directly, threat actors are now quietly taking over the...

FBI, Europol, and NCA Take Down 8Base Ransomware Data Leak and Negotiation Sites

--- Source: The Nation A coordinated law enforcement operation has taken down the dark web data leak and negotiation sites associated with the 8Base ransomware gang. Visitors to the data leak site are now greeted with a seizure banner that says: "This hidden site and the criminal content have bee...

LockBit Developer Rostislav Panev Charged for Billions in Global Ransomware Damages

A dual Russian and Israeli national has been charged in the United States for allegedly being the developer of the now-defunct LockBit ransomware-as-a-service RaaS operation since its inception in or around 2019 through at least February 2024. Rostislav Panev , 51, was arrested in Israel earlier...

German Police Disrupt DDoS-for-Hire Platform dstat[.]cc; Suspects Arrested

German law enforcement authorities have announced the disruption of a criminal service called dstat.cc that made it possible for other threat actors to easily mount distributed denial-of-service DDoS attacks. "The platform made such DDoS attacks accessible to a wide range of users, even those...

U.S. Offers $15 Million Bounty to Hunt Down LockBit Ransomware Leaders

The U.S. State Department has announced monetary rewards of up to $15 million for information that could lead to the identification of key leaders within the LockBit ransomware group and the arrest of any individual participating in the operation. "Since January 2020, LockBit actors have executed...

Key Cybercriminals Behind Notorious Ransomware Families Arrested in Ukraine

A coordinated law enforcement operation has led to the arrest of key individuals in Ukraine who are alleged to be a part of several ransomware schemes. "On 21 November, 30 properties were searched in the regions of Kyiv, Cherkasy, Rivne, and Vinnytsia, resulting in the arrest of the 32-year-old...

SSNDOB stolen data marketplace shut down by global law enforcement operation

The United States Department of Justice has announced a major takedown of a criminal marketplace that traded Personally Identifiable Information PII. Not just any old marketplace; this was a major, years-long operation with several failsafes to prevent permanent takedown. It took quite the...

‘ValidCC,’ a Major Payment Card Bazaar and Looter of E-Commerce Sites, Shuttered

ValidCC, a dark web bazaar run by a cybercrime group that for more than six years hacked online merchants and sold stolen payment card data, abruptly closed up shop last week. The proprietors of the popular store said their servers were seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement operation...

Police Shut Down xDedic – An Online Market for Cyber Criminals

In an international operation involving law enforcement authorities from the U.S. and several European countries, feds have shut down an online underground marketplace and arrested three suspects in Ukraine. Dubbed xDedic, the illegal online marketplace let cybercriminals buy, sell or rent out...