Law enforcement agencies from around the world have successfully disrupted the operations of two of the most widely used infostealer malware – RedLine and Meta. The operation, named Operation Magnus, was led by Dutch Police authorities and supported by the FBI, as well as other international partners such as those from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Portugal.
The official website where details of the takedown were first shared stated that the action was a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies. According to the notice posted on the website, the operation successfully disrupted the operations of the RedLine and Meta infostealers. Legal actions are now underway, and parties involved will be notified of the developments.
The law enforcement agencies also released a 50-second video as part of their announcement, claiming that they had gained full access to the servers associated with the RedLine and Meta stealers. The video highlighted the similarities between the two malware variants and mentioned that the dismantled version provided unique insights into the customers who used these services on the dark web.
The authorities were able to hack into various components of the infrastructure, including licensed servers, REST-API servers, stealers, and Telegram bots used by the criminal gang to operate their network across social networking and messaging channels. They also displayed a scroll of usernames referred to as “VIP clients,” although it remains unclear whether these individuals have been apprehended or indicted. More details are expected to be revealed in the coming days, with a joint statement anticipated from the law enforcement agencies involved in Operation Magnus.
The setup of the website and the gradual release of information bear similarities to a previous operation known as “Operation Endgame,” which targeted a large-scale botnet infrastructure and disrupted the operations of multiple notorious malware droppers such as IcedID, SystemBC, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee, and TrickBot.
Overall, Operation Magnus represents a significant success for international law enforcement agencies in combating cybercrime and disrupting the operations of major infostealer malware variants. The collaborative effort showcased the effectiveness of coordinated action against global cyber threats and serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle to protect digital networks and information from malicious actors.