FBI, EU Take Down Major Cybercrime Forums Cracked, Nulled
The FBI and European authorities have taken down two major cybercrime forums, Cracked and Nulled. These platforms were notorious for trafficking stolen data, hacking tools, and malware. The operation, led by the U.S. Justice Department, has resulted in the seizure of numerous domain names and the arrest of an Argentinian national. Two individuals associated with the management of a linked company, Republic Services, have not responded to requests for comment.
Operation Talent, the U.S.-led initiative, targeted the forums and associated services. Eight domain names used to operate Cracked and its payment processor Sellix were seized. Additionally, domains for anonymity services Associated Press and rdp[.]sh, heavily advertised on the forums, were also taken down.
The forums had millions of users and were investigated for their apparent co-founders' involvement in an Internet service provider and e-commerce platforms. Both Cracked and Nulled had previously been hacked, exposing private messages that referred to 'Finndev' as the owner of Shoppy[.]gg. The Justice Department revealed that Nulled had over five million members and sold stolen login credentials, hacking services, and tools since 2016.
Lucas Sohn, a 29-year-old Argentinian national and alleged administrator of Nulled, was arrested in Spain. The company linked to the forums, Republic Services, is incorporated in Hamburg, Germany, and controlled by Florian Marzahl and Finn Alexander Grimpe. Neither Marzahl nor Grimpe have responded to requests for comment.
The takedown of Cracked and Nulled is a significant blow to the cybercrime community. The seizure of domain names and the arrest of an alleged administrator demonstrate the international cooperation in combating cybercrime. The investigation into the individuals associated with Republic Services remains ongoing.
