International cybercrime operation disables over 300 servers

European, American, and Canadian authorities have coordinated a major operation that resulted in the shutdown of more than 300 servers worldwide and the issuance of international arrest warrants for 20 suspects linked to dangerous malware activities.

The effort, led by the EU agency Eurojust, is part of Operation Endgame, a large-scale campaign targeting cybercriminal networks responsible for distributing malicious software.

This week’s coordinated action brought together law enforcement from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Authorities identified more than three dozen suspects, charging 20 individuals with criminal offenses related to cyberattacks. In addition to the server takedowns, 650 malicious internet domains were neutralized, and authorities seized cryptocurrency worth 3.5 million euros.

These efforts build on a major crackdown carried out in May 2024, which was the largest operation ever against botnets, and form part of an ongoing campaign that has seized a total of 21.2 million euros since its start.

The malware targeted in this phase of the operation is known as “initial access malware.”

This type of software is used by cybercriminals to gain a hidden foothold in victim systems, allowing them to load additional malware, including ransomware, which can lock users out of their devices and demand payment for access.

Operation Endgame is set to continue with further actions planned and will share updates through its official website.

German authorities will place eighteen key suspects on the EU Most Wanted list, a move that will help heighten public awareness and support efforts to bring them to justice.