The Justice Department has announced the seizure of nine internet domains linked to prominent DDoS-for-hire services. This operation is part of a global effort involving Poland's Central Cybercrime Bureau, which also reported the arrest of four administrators associated with these services. The United States authorities assisted in these investigations.
DDoS-for-hire websites allow users to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks by flooding target computers and servers with data, rendering them unable to access the internet. These attacks have affected various victims worldwide, including schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, and millions of individuals. Such activities can degrade or completely disrupt internet connections.
The seized websites were implicated in numerous DDoS attacks globally. Although some claimed to offer "stresser" services for network testing purposes, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) revealed that this was a pretense. According to an affidavit supporting court-authorized warrants for site seizures, "thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers."
This recent action aims to build on past successes by targeting all known booter sites and launching a public education campaign about cyber threats. Over the last four years, more than 11 individuals have been charged for facilitating DDoS-for-hire services in Los Angeles and Anchorage. In total, over 75 domains related to these services have been seized.
"Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet," stated United States Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. He emphasized that this week's actions mark significant progress in combating criminal activities threatening digital infrastructure.
"DDoS for hire criminal booter services impact internet services for victims in every corner of the United States," said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. He highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle such cybercrime through collaborative partnerships domestically and internationally.
Kenneth DeChellis from DCIS noted: "The enforcement actions launched today...represent continued pressure on DDoS-for-hire services." He affirmed DCIS's commitment to pursuing those who target military information systems.
Additionally, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), DCIS, and Netherlands Police initiated an advertising campaign aimed at deterring potential cybercriminals searching for DDoS services online by using targeted ads triggered by specific keywords.
Despite law enforcement efforts, booter services continue growing due to low entry barriers into cybercrime activities like DDoS attacks — so named because they cause targeted computers' disconnection from networks ("booting").
Further information regarding booter/stresser service impacts can be found at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks
These domain seizures occurred under DCIS's Cyber-West Resident Agency supervision within Operation PowerOFF framework—a coordinated international endeavor aiming dismantle illegal infrastructures behind these crimes while holding responsible parties accountable globally—with EUROPOL among principal partners involved alongside numerous national agencies worldwide contributing assistance too such as Akamai AWS Cloudflare Digital Ocean Flashpoint Google PayPal University Cambridge Unit 221B etc., supported additionally via Assistant US Attorneys James Dochterman & Aaron Frumkin overseeing investigation proceedings now underway accordingly following successful execution respective roles hereon forthwith subsequently thereby ensuring justice served appropriately thus ultimately safeguarding cyberspace future generations alike likewise equally importantly thereafter consequently henceforth finally thereafter lastly eventually then...