In a decisive move against digital threats, INTERPOL recently dismantled a staggering network of over 22,000 malevolent servers implicated in cybercriminal operations worldwide. This synchronized initiative, known as Operation Synergia II, spanned from April 1 to August 31, 2024, and targeted an array of cyber malfeasance, including phishing, ransomware, and data-stealing networks.
INTERPOL reported, “Out of the nearly 30,000 suspicious IP addresses flagged, a substantial 76 percent were deactivated, with an additional 59 servers seized.” Further, authorities confiscated 43 digital devices, ranging from laptops to mobile phones and hard drives, critical in unraveling illicit cyber networks.
The crackdown also led to the arrest of 41 individuals, with another 65 subjects under continued scrutiny. Key operational results in various regions include:
- Hong Kong police dismantled over 1,037 servers linked to malicious activities.
- Mongolian authorities seized one server and identified 93 individuals with connections to unauthorized cyber operations.
- Macau’s enforcement disrupted 291 servers hosting malicious infrastructure.
- In Madagascar, 11 individuals linked to hostile servers were identified, resulting in the confiscation of 11 digital devices.
- In Estonia, over 80GB of compromised data was retrieved.
As part of a collaborative endeavor, private sector allies such as Group-IB, Kaspersky, Team Cymru, and Trend Micro contributed vital intelligence. Group-IB disclosed that it had identified over 2,500 IP addresses associated with 5,000 phishing sites, along with over 1,300 IPs linked to various malware activities across 84 countries.
David Monnier, Team Cymru’s chief evangelist, remarked on their involvement, stating that they aided the operation by “identifying and categorizing malicious infrastructure” through meticulous assessment and tracking efforts.
The initial phase of Operation Synergia, conducted between September and November 2023, led to 31 arrests and exposed 1,300 dubious IP addresses and URLs involved in phishing schemes, banking malware, and ransomware campaigns. This sequentially coordinated effort marks a substantial victory in the relentless battle against global cyber threats.
