Global operation against malware: suspects arrested and dismantled botnets

The authorities of the European Union, along with other countries, conducted an operation against malware such as IcedID, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee, and Trickbot, which infected computers via email. Coordinated by Eurojust and supported by Europol, the operation followed the successful removal of Emotet malware in 2021. During the actions in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom, four suspects distributing malware for blackmail were arrested. Botnets were broken down using “sinkholing” techniques and blocked over 100 servers and 2000 domains. The investigation revealed that one of the suspects earned at least 69 million euros in cryptocurrency through criminal activity. Eurojust has established a coordination centre to manage simultaneous operations and support national authorities in arrests and investigations.