Operation Magnus disrupted infostealer Malwares Redline and Meta

On October 28, 2024, the Dutch National Police, in collaboration with the FBI and other international partners, successfully dismantled the operations of the Redline and Meta infostealers.

This significant achievement was part of a coordinated effort known as Operation Magnus.

Operation Magnus: A Coordinated Effort

Operation Magnus was a joint initiative involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including Europol, NCIS, the U.S. Department of Justice, and police forces from Portugal and Belgium.

The operation focused on infiltrating and disrupting the infrastructure of the Redline and Meta malware services.

These info stealers have been notorious for exfiltrating sensitive data such as passwords, authentication cookies, and cryptocurrency wallets from infected systems

The task force gained full access to the servers supporting these malware operations, allowing them to seize substantial amounts of data.

This included usernames, passwords, IP addresses, timestamps, registration details, and even the source code for both info stealers

The authorities also obtained details about server licenses and control panels, which are crucial for further legal proceedings. 

Impact on Cybercriminals

The disruption of these operations is expected to have a significant impact on cybercriminal activities.

Redline and Meta have been used extensively by threat actors to steal sensitive information and sell it on underground markets.

The seizure of their infrastructure means that law enforcement now possesses evidence that could lead to arrests and prosecutions. 

A video released by the Dutch National Police humorously addressed alleged users of this info

stealers, warning them that their data is now in police hands

. The message was also distributed via Telegram channels associated with these malware services, further emphasizing the reach of this operation. 

Legal Actions Underway

As Operation Magnus progresses, involved parties will be notified of potential legal actions.

The authorities are preparing to use the gathered evidence to pursue criminal charges against those implicated in using or distributing these malware tools

This operation highlights the growing capability and cooperation among international law enforcement agencies to tackle cybercrime.

By dismantling the infrastructure behind Redline and Meta, authorities have struck a significant blow against cybercriminal networks that rely on such tools for illicit activities.

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