FBI, Europol shut down hacking sites selling personal info, tools for cybercriminals
By 
Adrianne Appel2025-02-03T15:56:00
Two massive hacking websites–where criminals sold everything from stolen social security numbers to tools for cybercriminals to gain access to computers–have finally been shut down by an international law enforcement team, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
Cybercrime has reached astronomical levels, with criminal hackers breaking into computer systems at hospitals and other businesses and steal personal and financial data.
Thieves rely on these “one-stop-shop” criminal marketplaces to sell their troves of stolen data. The websites are hidden from typical web users, because they require specific steps to access. Individuals who want false identification or are trying to steal funds from individuals, organizations or banks, frequent these marketplaces, the DOJ said in a press release Thursday.
THIS IS MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT
You are not logged in and do not have access to members-only content.
If you are already a registered user or a member, SIGN IN now.
Related articles
-
PremiumMany dating apps a matchmaker for cybercriminals, study finds
Location-based dating apps are not doing enough to protect user privacy, with exact location and other personal data being exploited by stalkers and bad actors, a recent analysis found.
-
News BriefFINRA focuses on financial crime in annual exam report
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s annual report on examinations and risk monitoring indicated a new emphasis for the regulator on combating financial crime, particularly cybercrime.
-
ArticleSurvey: Firms enhanced cybersecurity in 2020, but not enough
Companies forced to pivot to remote work in a global health crisis spent the bulk of 2020 grappling with heightened cyber-security risks. A year later, compliance practitioners say their companies’ cyber-security postures are better for it—even in the wake of the stunning SolarWinds hack.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefFTC shuts down student loan firms over deceptive debt relief practices
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against a pair of student loan debt relief companies for allegedly deceiving borrowers. The move came despite the Trump administration’s broader efforts to roll back enforcement actions against businesses since taking office.
-
News BriefCoinbase faces a leftover SEC probe as crypto enforcement loses steam
After dismissing its lawsuit against the crypto exchange Coinbase in March, a second investigation into the exchange by the Securities and Exchange Commission has surfaced, according to a report from the New York Times. This comes as a bit of a surprise after the Trump administration has been scaling down ...
-
News BriefStates like New York, Pennsylvania stepping up to fill regulatory void left by federal agencies
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau steps back from its core mission of protecting American consumers, states like New York and Pennsylvania are stepping up to fill the regulatory void.