FBI, DOJ Seize Website Addresses, Associated Illegal Data Sales, Hacking Services
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International law enforcement targeted and confiscated three internet domain names that sell cyberattacks and personal information.
Federal law enforcement agencies have seized several internet domain names in pursuit of an international investigation into websites that permit users to buy stolen personal data and information or hack other networks.
Announced on Wednesday, the domain names OVH Booter, WeLeakInfo and IPStress.in have all been procured by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice with a seizure warrant issued by a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“Today, the FBI and the department stopped two distressingly common threats: websites trafficking in stolen personal information and sites which attack and disrupt legitimate internet businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves. “Cybercrime often crosses national borders. Using strong working relationships with our international law enforcement partners, we will address crimes like these that threaten privacy, security and commerce around the globe.”
Law enforcement counterparts in the Netherlands and Belgium also took parallel steps.
One domain in particular, “weleakinfo.to,” allegedly claimed to provide its users with a search engine to find and obtain sensitive personal information that originated from data breaches and cyberattacks on other networks.
Some of the information included in “weleakinfo.to”’s catalog were email addresses, usernames, phone numbers and some passwords for online accounts.
Other IP addresses seized, “ipstress.in” and “ovh-booter.com,” offered to launch cyberattacks on networks on a “Distributed Denial of Service” basis. DDoS attacks are known for utilizing internet applications to attack the computers that are hosting a certain website. Attackers usually flood the page with traffic, crowding the server and making it difficult for users to interact with the website.
Now that law enforcement has confiscated all three domain names, the websites associated are inoperable.
“These seizures are prime examples of the ongoing actions the FBI and our international partners are undertaking to disrupt malicious cyber activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs. “Disrupting malicious DDoS operations and dismantling websites that facilitate the theft and sale of stolen personal information is a priority for the FBI.”