Polish authorities have apprehended two suspects linked to a DDoS-for-hire service that has been active since at least 2013. This arrest is part of an international operation called Operation PowerOFF, which aims to dismantle online platforms offering DDoS attack services to customers worldwide.
Europol, the FBI, and law enforcement agencies from the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium cooperated in this endeavor under the supervision of the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT).
During the operation, the Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau arrested the individuals and conducted ten searches, leading to the acquisition of valuable data from the suspects’ server located in Switzerland.
The evidence gathered from the server contained details on more than 35,000 user accounts, 76,000 login records, and over 320,000 unique IP addresses associated with the DDoS-for-hire service. In addition, authorities discovered 11,000 records of purchased attack plans, including email addresses of service buyers who paid approximately $400,000, along with over 1,000 records of attack plans worth around $44,000.
The successful crackdown on this DDoS-for-hire service adds to the ongoing efforts of Operation PowerOFF, which has previously targeted and dismantled numerous major platforms offering similar illicit services.
The FBI has also taken action against DDoS-as-a-service platforms in the past, seizing websites and internet domains associated with such activities. The authorities’ message is clear: launching DDoS attacks, whether using personal infrastructure or hiring services, is illegal and may result in criminal charges. This collaborative international effort demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime and protect online security.
