INTERPOL Takes Down 22,000 malicious IP addresses Used for Hacking

INTERPOL has dismantled over 22,000 malicious IP addresses and servers linked to numerous cyber threats.

This operation, code-named Synergia II, ran from April 1 to August 31, 2024, and was a collaborative effort between INTERPOL, non-public sector companions, and regulation enforcement companies throughout 95 member nations. 

The operation, which primarily focused phishing, ransomware, and info stealers, recognized roughly 30,000 suspicious IP addresses. Of those, 76 p.c have been efficiently taken down, and 59 servers have been seized.

Authorities additionally confiscated 43 digital gadgets, together with laptops, cell phones, and laborious disks, resulting in 41 arrests. 65 extra people are below investigation.

Construct an in-house SOC or outsource SOC-as-a-Service -> Calculate Costs

International Cooperation on Cybercrime

INTERPOL’s operation was supported by partnerships with cybersecurity corporations, together with Group-IB, Development Micro, Kaspersky, and Group Cymru.

These firms offered their experience in monitoring unlawful cyber actions, serving to to determine hundreds of malicious servers.

INTERPOL then shared this knowledge with regulation enforcement companies, which carried out coordinated actions reminiscent of home searches and server shutdowns. 

Notable actions throughout Operation Synergia II:

• Hong Kong (China): Police took 1,037 servers offline.
• Mongolia: Carried out 21 home searches and recognized 93 people linked to unlawful cyber actions.
• Macau (China): Disconnected 291 malicious servers.
• Madagascar: Seized 11 digital gadgets and recognized 11 suspects.
• Estonia: Authorities confiscated over 80GB of server knowledge for additional evaluation.

Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, emphasised the significance of worldwide cooperation, stating, “The worldwide nature of cybercrime requires a worldwide response.

Collectively, we’ve dismantled malicious infrastructure and prevented a whole bunch of hundreds of potential victims from falling prey to cybercrime.”

Operation Synergia II centered on three main cybercrimes:

• Phishing: The most typical technique for stealing delicate knowledge and deploying malware, typically utilizing more and more subtle methods, together with Generative AI.
• Infostealers: A rising risk, with a 40% improve in 2023, these malware varieties breach programs to steal login credentials and monetary info.
• Ransomware: Assaults rose globally by 70% in 2023, affecting industries throughout the board.

Operation Synergia II highlights the evolving nature of cybercrime and the necessity for continued world efforts to fight these threats.

Run non-public, Actual-time Malware Evaluation in each Home windows & Linux VMs. Get a 14-day free trial with ANY.RUN!