European law enforcement, led by France and the Netherlands with Europol support, successfully infiltrated and shut down 'First VPN,' a service allegedly used by cybercriminals for ransomware attacks and other illegal activities. The operation, which began in 2021, allowed authorities to access user databases and identify thousands of criminals who believed the VPN provided anonymity. The takedown highlights law enforcement's growing capability to penetrate supposedly secure criminal networks.
Background
VPN services are often used by cybercriminals to mask their identities and locations while conducting illegal activities online. Law enforcement agencies worldwide have been developing more sophisticated methods to track and infiltrate these networks.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 23, 2026 at 02:43 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10