216,000 Victims Notified as Interpol Unravels Major Infostealer Ring

A global cybercrime operation dismantles major infostealer networks, resulting in arrests and widespread alerts to victims.

Interpol leads global crackdown on infostealer malware

Interpol recently announced the results of a months-long operation targeting infostealer malware worldwide.

The initiative, dubbed Operation Secure, ran from January to April and mobilized law enforcement across more than 25 countries, working in tandem with cybersecurity firms and digital infrastructure providers.

Thousands of malicious domains taken down

The operation focused on dismantling infostealer campaigns mainly originating in Asia. Authorities took down over 20,000 malicious IP addresses and domains and seized 41 servers involved in the distribution and command-and-control (C2) operations of the malware.

Officers also recovered more than 100 gigabytes of compromised data for forensic analysis. One of the most significant findings emerged from Hong Kong, where police identified 117 C2 servers operating through nearly 90 internet service providers (ISPs).

Dozens arrested across Asia-Pacific

Interpol reported 32 arrests in connection to the operation, including 18 individuals in Vietnam and another 14 in Sri Lanka and Nauru.

Among them was the suspected leader of a Vietnamese-based group found with cash, SIM cards and business documents. The evidence is allegedly connected to the sale of stolen corporate credentials.

More than 216,000 victims notified

The mitigation phase of the operation involved identifying and notifying more than 216,000 victims of the malicious campaigns. Officials urged affected individuals and organizations to strengthen their digital resolve and be vigilant for further signs of compromise.

Operation Secure reportedly addressed nearly 70 malware variants, including some of the most active strains in the current cyber threat landscape.

Staying safe against infostealers and digital threats

Infostealer malware remains a major cyber threat, allowing attackers to harvest login credentials, financial information and cryptocurrency wallets from infected systems.

Specialized software like Bitdefender Ultimate Security can help you secure your systems against infostealers and other digital intrusions, including viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, ransomware, zero-day exploits and rootkits.

Its key features include complete, real-time data protection, network threat prevention, behavioral detection for active apps, cryptomining protection, and AI-fueled scam detection.