The FBI has seized the domains of two notorious hacking forums, Cracked.io and Nulled.to, in a coordinated international law enforcement effort called “Operation Talent.” These forums, primarily known for their involvement in cybercrime activities such as credential stuffing, cracking, and password theft, have been hubs for illegal activities. Though they did feature some ethical hacking discussions, they were widely seen as centers for cybercriminals. The seizure also extended to other domains associated with cybercrime, including StarkRDP.io, MySellIX.io, and Sellix.io, all involved in illicit activities such as selling stolen data and compromised accounts.
The law enforcement action involved multiple countries, including the United States, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Australia, Romania, and others.
When users attempted to access these sites, they encountered error messages indicating that the sites had been seized. The FBI took control of the domain name servers, replacing them with official FBI servers, and a seizure banner was placed on the sites to inform users of the action. The operation signifies a significant crackdown on the use of such platforms for illegal activities across the globe.
Cracked.io’s staff released a statement on Telegram, confirming the seizure of the domain and expressing uncertainty about the reasons behind it. They also stated that they were awaiting official documentation from the data center and the domain host. Meanwhile, users of the forum were informed that access to the site remained offline due to an ongoing data center issue. However, there was no confirmation as to whether the seizure was related to specific legal proceedings or investigative actions.
This move highlights the growing global effort to combat cybercrime, especially the operations of forums that facilitate hacking activities. It also raises concerns about the ease with which cybercriminals can use platforms like Cracked.io and Nulled.to to trade illicit tools, stolen data, and hacking services. As the investigation progresses, more details may emerge regarding the operation’s impact and the authorities’ next steps in addressing these illegal forums.
