Global Action against Preeminent Cyber Offenders, Majority of Them being Russian - Global pursuit of predominantly Russian digital crooks
Global Takedown of Major Cybercriminal Infrastructure
Law enforcement agencies from multiple countries, spearheaded by Europol and Eurojust, have reportedly seized control of over 300 servers worldwide, approximately 50 of which are based in Germany. Furthermore, around 650 internet domains were neutralized as part of a coordinated effort against Russian cybercrime known as Operation Endgame.
The operation, initially launched by Germany in 2022, has successfully weakened the technical infrastructure of the perpetrators, dealing a significant blow to their operations. Authorities also managed to seize cryptocurrency amounting to approximately €3.5 million at the time.
Investigations are ongoing in Germany, focusing on organized extortion and suspected membership in a foreign criminal organization. This has led to the issuance of international arrest warrants for 20 suspects, principally of Russian nationality, within German borders alone.
Key participants in this joint action include the BKA, General Prosecutor's Office Frankfurt in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, France, and Europol.
While Operation Endgame's global implications extend far beyond Germany, its reach is evident. The operation has targeted various malware operations, including ransomware networks, with notable successes in dismantling key infrastructure used in ransomware attacks. The neutralization of malware strains like DanaBot, Qakbot, and Trickbot has been significant.
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 16 individuals linked to DanaBot, with two suspects from Russia named among them. International arrest warrants have been issued against 20 targets, and the Department of Defense's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) has carried out seizures of DanaBot infrastructure worldwide, including in the U.S.
Operation Endgame signifies a substantial effort to combat Russian cybercrime by dismantling key infrastructure and disrupting ransomware operations worldwide. Although specific details regarding actions in Germany are not extensively recorded, theoperation’s global impact is undeniable.
- The ongoing investigations in Germany, related to organized extortion and suspected membership in a foreign criminal organization, are part of the global effort against Russian cybercrime, known as Operation Endgame, which also involves the discussion of EC countries' employment policies, as the operation requires close collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies, including those from Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, France, and Europol.
- As per the global takedown of major cybercriminal infrastructure, known as Operation Endgame, the neutralization of malware strains like DanaBot, Qakbot, and Trickbot is a testament to the significant impact technology has on crime-and-justice issues, as these malware operations are often used in ransomware attacks, and their dismantling is a key part of the operation's success, which is covered widely in general-news media.
