The European Police Office, Europol, announced on Wednesday the shutdown of one of the largest hacker platforms in the world, Genesis Market, which was engaged in the sale of millions of usernames from stolen accounts. The operation, launched in 2019, involved more than 17 countries and resulted in the arrest of 119 people and the seizure of more than €2 million in cryptocurrencies and cash. The raid on 208 properties was carried out by Dutch police and the FBI.
The Genesis Market platform offered the sale of bots that infected victims’ devices through malware and other methods. In addition to selling usernames, the platform also sold credit card information and passwords. The identities of more than two million people were sold through this platform up to the time it was shut down, Europol reported.
The shutdown operation took place not only in Europe but also in Australia, Canada, the United States, and other European countries. The British crime agency reported 24 arrests in the UK, while the Dutch police reported 17 arrests in the Netherlands.
The takedown of Genesis Market is considered a major achievement in the fight against cybercrime. Edvardas Sileris, director of the European Cybercrime Center, said the operation has severely disrupted the cybercrime ecosystem, removing one of its main catalysts. The operation also demonstrates the commitment of Europol and its partners in the fight against cybercrime and their ability to work together on a global scale.