HotNews No 108: Major Operation Against Cybercrime: Leading Forums Cracked and Nulled Shut Down

In an international operation led by German authorities with the support of Europol and law enforcement agencies from multiple countries, the two largest cybercrime forums – Cracked and Nulled – have been taken down. These platforms, which had over 10 million users worldwide, served as key hubs for trading stolen data, malware, hacking tools, and other illicit services.

The operation, codenamed Talent, took place between January 28 and 30, 2025, and resulted in:

🔹 The arrest of 2 suspects
🔹 Searches at 7 locations
🔹 The seizure of 17 servers and over 50 electronic devices
🔹 The confiscation of approximately €300,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies

In addition to shutting down the forums themselves, authorities also targeted associated services, including the financial processor Sellix, which was used by Cracked, and the hosting service StarkRDP, which was promoted and operated by the same suspects.

How Did the Forums Operate?

The Cracked.io and Nulled.to platforms were central hubs for cybercrime-as-a-service, where criminals offered and sold hacking tools, tutorials for carrying out attacks, and even AI scripts designed to automatically identify security vulnerabilities. These forums were also used to develop sophisticated phishing techniques, leveraging artificial intelligence to create more convincing and targeted attacks.

Throughout the investigation, Europol provided operational and analytical support, while experts from its European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) coordinated the exchange of information through the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT). This operation highlights the strong international collaboration in tackling the growing cybercrime-as-a-service trend, which enables even less technically skilled individuals to conduct cyberattacks.

Law enforcement agencies from Europe, the United States, and Australia participated in the operation, demonstrating a high level of international coordination in the fight against digital crime. The dismantling of these forums has delivered a significant blow to the underground cybercrime economy, but experts warn that the fight is far from over—criminals will seek new platforms to continue their activities. Europol has reaffirmed its commitment to coordinating international efforts to prevent the spread of such networks and ensure a safer digital space.

Your DefendMe Team