Police take down VPN linked to multiple ransomware hits:
The LabVPN virtual private network (VPN) service has been taken offline and its infrastructure seized in a multinational police operation, having allegedly been employed by cyber criminal gangs to support ransomware campaigns.
The Europol-aided operation on 17 January 2022 spanned 10 countries and involved 12 law enforcement agencies. It was led by the Hanover Police Department in Germany and saw 15 servers seized, with the network's UK-based node taken offline by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The takedown is the result of a two-year investigation prompted by an August 2019 cyber attack on the local administration of Neustadt am Rübenberge, a small town of around 45,000 located near to Hanover.
LabVPN is accused of allowing its service to be used by cyber criminals in both the preparation and execution of ransomware attacks that have caused significant economic damage to many businesses, including in the UK.
The service was set up in 2008 and offered VPN services on the dark web based on OpenVPN technology, backed with 2048-bit encryption for around $60 per annum. This allegedly made it a popular choice for malicious actors.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 22 2022, @06:53AM (1 child)
Well, you have banned aristarchus. How did you do that, without surveillance and a backdoor? You claim to know of his crimes, but no evidence was ever presented to the community. I, for one, do not welcome our new SoylentNews Lords of the Inquisition.
(Score: 3, Informative) by janrinok on Saturday January 22 2022, @09:29AM
We haven't banned Aristarchus.
Well, we achieved that by not doing it. He could do with improving his karma but a few sensible comments or perhaps a reasonable submission could solve that.
Where have we claimed that? The moderation ban is because HE LOGGED IN AND ABUSED THE MODERATION SYSTEM - which we feel that is pretty conclusive. He has been invited to contact us by email if he requires more information. He has declined to do so.
A bit dramatic don't you think, even for you. I suppose you will be leaving then.....?