Press Release
U.S. Department of Justice Shuts Down Major DDoS-For-Hire Network in International Crackdown
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced the successful seizure of nine internet domains related to significant distributed denial-of-service (DDoS)-for-hire operations. This coordinated international effort highlights the escalating role of Alaska in combating global cybercrime.
The DOJ collaborated with various international law enforcement agencies, including Poland’s Central Cybercrime Bureau, which simultaneously arrested four administrators of these illicit websites. The seized domains, linked to platforms such as Cfxapi, Neostress, and Zapcut, provided illegal "booter" services for as little as $10 per attack, enabling users to flood targets—ranging from schools to government offices—with traffic, effectively crashing their systems.
This operation is part of “Operation PowerOFF,” an ongoing multinational campaign aimed at dismantling DDoS-for-hire infrastructure. The District of Alaska has emerged as a vital partner in these investigations, with over 11 individuals charged in recent years for their involvement in such cyber crimes.
U.S. Attorney for Alaska, Michael J. Heyman, emphasized that these "booter" services pose a threat to internet services for victims nationwide, including in rural areas. The DOJ has previously charged individuals like David Bukoski, who operated a major DDoS service responsible for over 50,000 attacks worldwide.
Law enforcement officials noted that the seized domains facilitated hundreds of thousands of attacks, with evidence indicating the awareness of both users and providers regarding the illegality of these services.
In a proactive measure, authorities have launched an online advertising campaign to deter individuals seeking DDoS tools, educating the public on the legal ramifications of such activities. The current seizures were executed by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, with assistance from the FBI.
This decisive action reflects ongoing efforts to safeguard internet infrastructure and tackle emerging cyber threats.
Source
Photo credit mustreadalaska.com
