YOU CANNOT HIDE: Virtual private networks can be useful tools for securing business practices and protecting people privacy online. When used by a criminal group, a robust VPN service provider becomes a massive security threat requiring an international counteraction effort.
Earlier this week, European authorities carried out a continent-wide operation targeting a crime-focused VPN service known as "First VPN." Europol said the illicit service had been promoted for years on Russian-language underground forums, where it was marketed as a "trusted" platform for cybercriminals seeking a safehaven for their malicious online activities.
Europol worked together with Eurojust, the EU's agency for judicial cooperation in criminal matters involving multiple member states. The two agencies coordinated with law enforcement and judicial authorities from 16 countries, concluding a complex investigation that began in December 2021. Romania-based cybersecurity firm Bitdefender also participated in the operation.
First VPN operators were reportedly selling a range of illicit services, including anonymous payment mechanisms, hidden online infrastructure, and other tools supporting cybercriminal activity. Europol said the VPN was involved in nearly every significant crime investigation supported by the agency in recent years. It allegedly facilitated a wide range of cybercrime activities, including ransomware attacks, large-scale fraud operations, data theft, and more.
