Authorities have delivered a major blow to the cybercrime world by dismantling two of the largest hacking forums globally—Cracked.io and Nulled.to—bringing down platforms that catered to over 10 million users.
This Europol-supported operation, dubbed “Operation Talent“, was spearheaded by German authorities with collaboration from law enforcement agencies across eight countries.
The coordinated action, conducted between January 28 and 30, led to significant outcomes, including the arrest of two suspects, the seizure of 17 servers, over 50 electronic devices, and €300,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies, alongside the shutdown of 12 domains associated with the platforms.
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Investigators estimate that the cybercriminals operating these forums earned illicit profits of approximately €1 million.
A One-Stop Shop for Cybercrime
Cracked.io and Nulled.to served as hubs for cybercriminals by offering stolen data, hacking tools, malware, and even cybercrime-as-a-service—lowering the technical barriers for individuals seeking to engage in illegal activities.
The platforms acted as marketplaces and learning spaces, where users could share security vulnerabilities, discuss advanced hacking techniques, and even trade AI-powered tools for automated attacks.
The forums also promoted related services, including “Sellix,” a financial processor used for criminal transactions, and “StarkRDP,” a hosting service run by the same suspects. Both services were taken offline during the operation.
The Role of Europol
Europol provided critical operational, analytical, and forensic support throughout the investigation.
On the day of action, Europol specialists worked closely with German investigators on-site while the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) facilitated cross-border information sharing through the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT).
This cooperation underscores Europol’s commitment to acting as a hub for law enforcement knowledge and expertise.
The takedown highlights the alarming rise of cybercrime-as-a-service, a trend that allows even inexperienced individuals to carry out sophisticated cyberattacks.
These forums offered far more than traditional hacking tools—they provided tutorials, advanced AI-based scripts to identify system vulnerabilities, and phishing techniques designed to evade detection.
This accessibility has contributed to an increase in aggressive and technologically advanced cybercrimes.
The operation involved law enforcement agencies from eight countries, including Germany, the United States, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Romania.
The international collaboration demonstrates the growing need for cross-border efforts to combat the global nature of cybercrime.
This groundbreaking operation not only disrupts a critical infrastructure for cybercriminals but also highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
Europol and its partners remain committed to ensuring that cyberspace becomes a safer place for all.
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