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A Global Strike Against Digital Theft
In an unprecedented worldwide crackdown, law enforcement agencies across 26 countries have united under the banner of “Operation Secure” to target one of the fastest-growing cyber threats: infostealer malware. Orchestrated by Interpol and executed between January and April 2025, this large-scale operation focused on dismantling malware networks designed to siphon off sensitive personal and financial data from unsuspecting users. With the support of major cybersecurity firms like Kaspersky, Group-IB, and Trend Micro, this international initiative has not only led to dozens of arrests but also struck a powerful blow to the underground economy that thrives on stolen digital identities.
Operation Secure: A Closer Look at the Results
Spanning continents and involving coordinated efforts from both public and private sectors, Operation Secure produced some striking outcomes. Law enforcement agencies successfully dismantled a vast network of cyber infrastructure, taking down over 20,000 malicious domains and IP addresses linked to info-stealing malware. A total of 41 servers used for these illicit operations were seized, and 100 GB of critical data was confiscated. The operation resulted in the arrest of 32 individuals connected to these cybercrimes, including 18 apprehended by Vietnamese authoritiesâone of whom is suspected of leading a major criminal network involved in selling corporate account access.
Infostealers are particularly dangerous because they covertly extract login credentials, browser cookies, cryptocurrency wallet keys, and other sensitive data. Once stolen, this information is compiled into “logs” that are sold on dark web marketplaces or leveraged in secondary attacks against individuals, businesses, or institutions. During the operation, authorities uncovered a massive cluster of 117 command-and-control servers in Hong Kong used to coordinate phishing campaigns, online fraud, and social media scams.
Group-IB revealed that malware strains like Lumma, RisePro, and META were particularly affected. The same report detailed how law enforcement received intelligence on dark web activity, social media ads, and Telegram channels where these groups promoted and monetized their malware. For Lumma Stealer, this represents its second major setback after a U.S.-led takedown in May 2025 that dismantled over 2,000 related domains. Similarly, META was already weakened by Operation Magnus in late 2024.
The fight against infostealers is not just about catching cybercriminalsâit’s also about disrupting the broader ecosystem that supports and profits from stolen data. These malware tools have been linked to major cybersecurity breaches affecting global brands like UnitedHealth, PowerSchool, HotTopic, CircleCI, and Snowflake, illustrating just how widespread and damaging their impact can be.
What Undercode Say:
The sheer scope and success of Operation Secure signal a turning point in the global battle against cybercrime, especially in relation to infostealer malware. These types of malware are no longer niche tools used by low-level hackers; theyâve evolved into key components of a much larger digital black market, acting as gateways to ransomware attacks, data breaches, and corporate espionage.
The operation exposed the complexity and scale of cybercriminal infrastructure, especially the reliance on globally distributed servers and the use of encrypted communication platforms like Telegram. The fact that over 20,000 domains and IP addresses were linked to infostealer operations underscores just how pervasive and sophisticated these networks have become. These arenât just isolated actors; they are part of transnational crime syndicates with layered operations and monetization strategies.
Moreover, the collaborative nature of this crackdownâwith cybersecurity firms and law enforcement agencies working hand-in-handâillustrates the importance of public-private partnerships in modern cyber defense. Without intelligence feeds from companies like Group-IB, itâs unlikely that law enforcement could have effectively traced the command-and-control infrastructure or tracked dark web activity so precisely.
Another significant revelation was the concentration of C2 servers in Hong Kong. This points to a trend where certain jurisdictions, often due to lax regulatory environments or limited international cooperation, become hubs for cybercriminal operations. Expect to see geopolitical friction rise as governments begin to demand greater accountability and cyber governance from these digital safe havens.
Lumma, RisePro, and META represent only the tip of the iceberg. While their disruption is a step forward, history has shown that such operations often lead to fragmentation, with new actors or forks rising from the remnants. The shutdown of one platform can lead to two others springing up in its place unless systemic vulnerabilitiesâlike outdated security protocols and lack of endpoint protectionâare also addressed.
Organizations, meanwhile, need to shift from reactive cybersecurity to proactive threat hunting. Infostealers often exploit unpatched software, poor credential hygiene, and insecure storage practices. A zero-trust approach, alongside automated patching and real-time threat monitoring, must become the norm rather than the exception.
Finally, the scale of victim notificationsâ216,000 individuals alertedâshows the human cost behind every âlogâ sold online. Each set of stolen credentials can cascade into identity theft, financial fraud, or reputational harm. This isnât just a corporate problemâitâs a societal one.
Fact Checker Results:
â Arrests: 32 suspects confirmed
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Infrastructure: Over 20,000 malicious domains and 41 servers seized
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Victims: 216,000 people notified of stolen data đ˘
Prediction:
Expect infostealer operations to become more decentralized and evasive in the coming months. With major players like Lumma and META disrupted, smaller groups and new variants will likely fill the void. Meanwhile, cybercriminals will increasingly rely on encrypted communications and decentralized hosting to escape detection. Global law enforcement will continue to coordinate multi-nation responses, but the next phase of the cyber war will demand faster intelligence sharing, broader public awareness campaigns, and even tighter collaboration between tech companies and governments worldwide. đĄď¸đđ
References:
Reported By: www.bleepingcomputer.com
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