Authorities Seize Domains of Popular Hacking Forums in Major Cybercrime Crackdown

In a significant international law enforcement operation, authorities have seized the domains of several prominent hacking forums, including Cracked, Nulled, Sellix, and StarkRDP. This coordinated effort, known as Operation Talent, involved agencies from Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, and the United States, with support from Europol.

Targeted Platforms and Seizure Details

The targeted domains are:

www.cracked.io
www.nulled.to
www.mysellix.io
www.sellix.io
www.starkrdp.io

Visitors to these websites now encounter a seizure notice stating that the sites have been confiscated by international law enforcement partners. The message also indicates that information regarding customers and victims has been obtained during the operation.

Scope of the Operation

Operation Talent led to the seizure of 12 domains associated with the Cracked and Nulled platforms. Additionally, authorities dismantled related services, including Sellix, a financial processor used by Cracked, and StarkRDP, a hosting service promoted on both platforms and operated by the same suspects. The operation also resulted in the arrest of two individuals in Valencia, Spain, the confiscation of 17 servers, and the seizure of over 50 electronic devices and approximately €300,000 in cash and cryptocurrency.

Impact on Cybercrime Activities

Cracked and Nulled were among the largest hacking forums, boasting over 10 million users combined. These platforms served as hubs for discussions on cybercrime and marketplaces for illegal goods and services, including stolen data, malware, hacking tools, and "combo lists" of stolen credentials. The forums also facilitated the distribution of AI-based tools and scripts designed to exploit security vulnerabilities and optimize attacks.

Future Investigations

The seized data, encompassing email addresses, IP addresses, and communication records of the approximately 10 million registered user accounts, will serve as a foundation for further international investigations targeting criminal sellers and users of these platforms. Authorities aim to dismantle the networks that have relied on these forums to perpetrate cybercrimes.

Conclusion

Operation Talent represents a significant milestone in global efforts to combat cybercrime. By dismantling these prominent hacking forums and associated services, international law enforcement agencies have disrupted key platforms that facilitated illegal activities. This operation underscores the importance of continued collaboration among global authorities to address the evolving challenges of cybercrime.