More than 20 countries have conducted a coordinated takedown of multiple DDoS-for-hire platforms used to launch massive cyberattacks against government agencies and critical infrastructure.
- Over 50 domains were seized and approximately 75,000 users were identified by European authorities.
- U.S. officials seized eight sites, including “Vac Stresser” and “Mythical Stress.”
- Targets included schools, gaming platforms, and Department of War resources.
Global Coordination and Arrests
Europol confirmed that four people were arrested and 25 search warrants were executed during the operation. The agency did not provide specific details regarding the raids or the identities of those detained.
The action was described as an “operational sprint,” where countries collaborated with experts to dismantle the infrastructure enabling these attacks. Using previously seized databases, Europol geolocated more than three million “criminal user accounts.”
U.S. Seizures and Service Pricing
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the court-authorized seizure of eight websites. Prosecutors in Alaska specifically conducted searches of backend servers for sites including Quantum-stress, Stresse, Unknownstresser, Vacstresser, dreams-stresser, and Mythicalstress.
An FBI agent revealed the pricing structure of Mythical Stress, noting a $45 monthly plan that allowed users to target three IPs at a time for 40 minutes. The most expensive plan cost $950 per month and offered attacks lasting 500 hours targeting 90 IPs.
One of the dismantled platforms boasted of launching more than 142 million DDoS attacks. Law enforcement banners now appear on the domains for both “Vac Stresser” and “Mythical Stress.”
Long-term Battle Against DDoS-for-Hire Platforms
The DOJ stated that these services targeted a wide array of victims globally, including government agencies, schools, and millions of individuals. These actions are part of a nearly decade-long effort known as Operation PowerOFF.
Over the last four years, 11 people have been charged in the U.S. with facilitating these services, and 100 domains have been seized. Similarly, Polish police arrested four people last year for operating six different sites with services starting as low as 10 euros.
Justice Department officials acknowledged that DDoS services continue to proliferate because they offer a low barrier to entry for those seeking to engage in cybercriminal activity.
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