International cybercrime operation results in 34 arrests across 13 different countries

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in coordination with Europe’s European Cyber Crime Centre (EC3), arrested approximately 34 individuals in connection with an international cyber crime investigation across 13 different countries.

The operation was aimed at users who offered services to conduct distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which render servers and web hosts inaccessible until the attack can be stopped.

Spanning over five days beginning on Dec. 5, law enforcement agencies conducted 101 interviews and arrested 34 suspects during the operation. Agencies with the European Union assisted in identifying suspects, many of whom were under the age of 20. Actions within the United States were hosted by the FBI and coordinated by the International Cyber Crime Coordination Cell (IC4).

Actions were conducted in Australia, Belgium, France, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“DDoS tools are among the many specialized cyber crime services available for hire that may be used by professional criminals and novices alike,” said FBI Unit Chief of IC4 Steve Kelly. “While the FBI is working with our international partners to apprehend and prosecute sophisticated cyber criminals, we also want to deter the young from starting down this path.”

Some of the crimes committed included hacking computer networks without permission, developing malware and carrying out DDoS attacks on various servers and networks.

“Today’s generation is closer to technology than ever before, with the potential of exacerbating the threat of cyber crime,” said EC3 Head Steve Wilson. “Many IT enthusiasts get involved in seemingly low-level fringe cyber crime activities from a young age, unaware of the consequences that such crimes carry.”