02-05-2025, 03:05 PM
News FBI and Global Task Force Dismantle Cracked and Nulled, Seizing Millions in Sto
<p><img width="1280" height="882" src="https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/Cracked-and-Nulled-1.webp" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Cracked and Nulled" decoding="async" srcset="https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/Cracked-and-Nulled-1.webp 1280w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x207.webp 300w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...4x706.webp 1024w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...8x529.webp 768w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x413.webp 600w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x103.webp 150w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x517.webp 750w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x786.webp 1140w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" title="FBI and Global Task Force Dismantle Cracked and Nulled, Seizing Millions in Stolen Data 9"></p><span data-contrast="auto">Authorities have successfully disrupted and dismantled the notorious online cybercrime marketplaces know</span><span data-contrast="auto">n as Cracked and Nulled, which h</span><span data-contrast="auto">ad been operating since 2016. The Justice Department’s involvement in this effort was part of t</span><span data-contrast="auto">he larger Operation Talent, a</span><span data-contrast="auto"> multinational initiative aimed at targeting these criminal platforms that trafficked in stolen login credentials, hacking tools, and various other illicit products. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">The operation spanned across several countries, including the United States, Romania, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece. This law enforcement operation, which has led to widespread seizures of servers and domain names associated with these marketplaces, is expected to disrupt the illicit trade that has victimized millions of individuals. It is believed that at least 17 million people in the United States alone were impacted by the cybercrimes linked to these platforms.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<h3 aria-level="2"><b><span data-contrast="none">Cracked and Nulled: A Hotbed of Cybercrime Activity</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":160,"335559739":80}"> </span></h3>
<span data-contrast="auto">One of the primary targets of <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/cracked-and-nulled-marketplaces-disrupted-international-cyber-operation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Operation Talent</a> was</span><span data-contrast="auto"> Cracked, </span><span data-contrast="auto">an online marketplace that had been operational since March 201</span><span data-contrast="auto">8. Cracked had more than 4 million users and was involved in selling stolen login credentials, hacking tools, malware hosting services, and other <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/cybersecurity-outlook-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime</a> products.</span>
[caption id="attachment_100734" align="alignnone" width="930"]<img class="size-full wp-image-100734" src="https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/Cracked-and-Nulled.webp" alt="Cracked and Nulled" width="930" height="523" /> Operation Talent Seizure Banner (Source: justice.gov)[/caption]
<span data-contrast="auto">Over 28 million posts were li</span><span data-contrast="auto">sted on the platform, with content ranging from illegal tools to sensitive stolen information. According to report</span><span data-contrast="auto">s, Cracked generated approximately $4 million in revenue during its operation, primarily by tra</span><span data-contrast="auto">fficking in stolen <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/what-is-data/" title="data" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20999">data</a> that allowed cybercriminals to launch fraudulent schemes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">A particularly disturbing example of ho</span><span data-contrast="auto">w Cracked was us</span><span data-contrast="auto">ed involved a case of cyberstalking and sextortion in the Western District of New York. A criminal accessed a victim’s personal credentials using a product advertised on the platform, which claimed to offer access to “billions of leaked websites.” This allowed the criminal to send sexually explicit and threatening messages to the victim, demonstrating just one of the numerous harmful applications of th</span><span data-contrast="auto">e Cracked mark</span><span data-contrast="auto">etplace’s offerings.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">To mitigate such incidents, the FBI, in cooperation with international law enforcement partners, identified and seized servers and domain names associated with</span><span data-contrast="auto"> the Cracked infrastructure. This operation, including the takedown of servers used for paym</span><span data-contrast="auto">ent processing through </span>Sellix<span data-contrast="auto"> and related hosting services, was a direct hit at the heart of the platform’s operations. <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/europol-busts-phishing-gang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law enforcement</a> officials now expect that anyone trying to access the seized domains will encounter a law enforcement seizure banner, alerting them to the legal actions taken.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<h3 aria-level="2"><b><span data-contrast="none">Nulled Marketplace: A Parallel Operation</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":160,"335559739":80}"> </span></h3>
<span data-contrast="auto">Simultaneously,</span><span data-contrast="auto"> the U.S. Justice Department also announced the seizure of the Nulled marketplace domain and revealed criminal charges against Lucas Sohn, one of its key administrators. Nulled had been active since 2016, with over 5 million users and more than 43 million posts related to <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://cyble.com/cybercrime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="cybercrime" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20994">cybercrime</a> products and services. Similar to Cracked, the platform was responsible for selling stolen login credentials, personal identification documents, and <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/physical-hacking-tools-available-e-commerce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hacking tools</a>. The marketplace reportedly generated around $1 million annually, enabling criminals to further their activities with ease.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">A particularly concerning item that was sold through Nulled was a database containing the names and social <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/" title="security" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20996">security</a> numbers of 500,000 U.S. citizens, highlighting the scale of identity theft facilitated by the platform. Lucas Sohn, a 29-year-old Argentinian residing in Spain, acted as a key administrator for Nulled, processing transactions and acting as an intermediary for users engaged in cybercrime activities. Sohn faces several charges, including conspiracy to traffic in passwords, <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/north-korean-cyber-fraud-scheme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identity fraud</a>, and access device fraud. If convicted, he could face lengthy prison sentences.</span>
<h3 aria-level="2"><b><span data-contrast="none">The Global Nature of the Cybercrime Threat</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":160,"335559739":80}"> </span></h3>
<span data-contrast="auto">This operation exemplifies the collaborative efforts between international law enforcement agencies in addressing the growing issue of cybercrime. Investigators from multiple countries, including the Australian Federal Police, France’s Anti-Cybercrime Office, Germany’s Federal Cri</span><span data-contrast="auto">minal Police Office, and the Spanish National Police, among others, joined forces with the FBI to disrupt the Cracked and Nulled marketplaces.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">With the seizures of critical cybercrime infrastructure and the arrests of key figures involved in these online marketplaces, authorities have taken a step toward curbing the global trade in stolen data and <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/what-is-hacking/" title="hacking" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20995">hacking</a> tools. The operation not only highlights the widespread use of such platforms in criminal enterprises but also demonstrates the ongoing international commitment to combat online cybercrime.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">The Justice Department, along with its law enforcement partners, has sent a clear message to cybercriminals operating in the dark corners of the <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/what-is-internet/" title="internet" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20998">internet</a>: they are not beyond reach. The takedown of Cracked and Nulled serves as a powerful reminder of the risks associated with engaging in illegal activities within online <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/justice-department-shuts-popeyetools-website/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime marketplaces</a>. With the help of operations like Operation Talent, authorities are sending a warning to others who may attempt to <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://cyble.com/exploit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="exploit" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20993">exploit</a> similar platforms for criminal purposes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
https://thecyberexpress.com/internationa...nd-nulled/
<p><img width="1280" height="882" src="https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/Cracked-and-Nulled-1.webp" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Cracked and Nulled" decoding="async" srcset="https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/Cracked-and-Nulled-1.webp 1280w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x207.webp 300w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...4x706.webp 1024w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...8x529.webp 768w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x413.webp 600w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x103.webp 150w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x517.webp 750w, https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/u...0x786.webp 1140w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" title="FBI and Global Task Force Dismantle Cracked and Nulled, Seizing Millions in Stolen Data 9"></p><span data-contrast="auto">Authorities have successfully disrupted and dismantled the notorious online cybercrime marketplaces know</span><span data-contrast="auto">n as Cracked and Nulled, which h</span><span data-contrast="auto">ad been operating since 2016. The Justice Department’s involvement in this effort was part of t</span><span data-contrast="auto">he larger Operation Talent, a</span><span data-contrast="auto"> multinational initiative aimed at targeting these criminal platforms that trafficked in stolen login credentials, hacking tools, and various other illicit products. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">The operation spanned across several countries, including the United States, Romania, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece. This law enforcement operation, which has led to widespread seizures of servers and domain names associated with these marketplaces, is expected to disrupt the illicit trade that has victimized millions of individuals. It is believed that at least 17 million people in the United States alone were impacted by the cybercrimes linked to these platforms.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<h3 aria-level="2"><b><span data-contrast="none">Cracked and Nulled: A Hotbed of Cybercrime Activity</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":160,"335559739":80}"> </span></h3>
<span data-contrast="auto">One of the primary targets of <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/cracked-and-nulled-marketplaces-disrupted-international-cyber-operation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Operation Talent</a> was</span><span data-contrast="auto"> Cracked, </span><span data-contrast="auto">an online marketplace that had been operational since March 201</span><span data-contrast="auto">8. Cracked had more than 4 million users and was involved in selling stolen login credentials, hacking tools, malware hosting services, and other <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/cybersecurity-outlook-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime</a> products.</span>
[caption id="attachment_100734" align="alignnone" width="930"]<img class="size-full wp-image-100734" src="https://thecyberexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/Cracked-and-Nulled.webp" alt="Cracked and Nulled" width="930" height="523" /> Operation Talent Seizure Banner (Source: justice.gov)[/caption]
<span data-contrast="auto">Over 28 million posts were li</span><span data-contrast="auto">sted on the platform, with content ranging from illegal tools to sensitive stolen information. According to report</span><span data-contrast="auto">s, Cracked generated approximately $4 million in revenue during its operation, primarily by tra</span><span data-contrast="auto">fficking in stolen <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/what-is-data/" title="data" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20999">data</a> that allowed cybercriminals to launch fraudulent schemes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">A particularly disturbing example of ho</span><span data-contrast="auto">w Cracked was us</span><span data-contrast="auto">ed involved a case of cyberstalking and sextortion in the Western District of New York. A criminal accessed a victim’s personal credentials using a product advertised on the platform, which claimed to offer access to “billions of leaked websites.” This allowed the criminal to send sexually explicit and threatening messages to the victim, demonstrating just one of the numerous harmful applications of th</span><span data-contrast="auto">e Cracked mark</span><span data-contrast="auto">etplace’s offerings.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">To mitigate such incidents, the FBI, in cooperation with international law enforcement partners, identified and seized servers and domain names associated with</span><span data-contrast="auto"> the Cracked infrastructure. This operation, including the takedown of servers used for paym</span><span data-contrast="auto">ent processing through </span>Sellix<span data-contrast="auto"> and related hosting services, was a direct hit at the heart of the platform’s operations. <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/europol-busts-phishing-gang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law enforcement</a> officials now expect that anyone trying to access the seized domains will encounter a law enforcement seizure banner, alerting them to the legal actions taken.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<h3 aria-level="2"><b><span data-contrast="none">Nulled Marketplace: A Parallel Operation</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":160,"335559739":80}"> </span></h3>
<span data-contrast="auto">Simultaneously,</span><span data-contrast="auto"> the U.S. Justice Department also announced the seizure of the Nulled marketplace domain and revealed criminal charges against Lucas Sohn, one of its key administrators. Nulled had been active since 2016, with over 5 million users and more than 43 million posts related to <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://cyble.com/cybercrime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="cybercrime" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20994">cybercrime</a> products and services. Similar to Cracked, the platform was responsible for selling stolen login credentials, personal identification documents, and <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/physical-hacking-tools-available-e-commerce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hacking tools</a>. The marketplace reportedly generated around $1 million annually, enabling criminals to further their activities with ease.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">A particularly concerning item that was sold through Nulled was a database containing the names and social <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/" title="security" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20996">security</a> numbers of 500,000 U.S. citizens, highlighting the scale of identity theft facilitated by the platform. Lucas Sohn, a 29-year-old Argentinian residing in Spain, acted as a key administrator for Nulled, processing transactions and acting as an intermediary for users engaged in cybercrime activities. Sohn faces several charges, including conspiracy to traffic in passwords, <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/north-korean-cyber-fraud-scheme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identity fraud</a>, and access device fraud. If convicted, he could face lengthy prison sentences.</span>
<h3 aria-level="2"><b><span data-contrast="none">The Global Nature of the Cybercrime Threat</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"134245418":true,"134245529":true,"335559738":160,"335559739":80}"> </span></h3>
<span data-contrast="auto">This operation exemplifies the collaborative efforts between international law enforcement agencies in addressing the growing issue of cybercrime. Investigators from multiple countries, including the Australian Federal Police, France’s Anti-Cybercrime Office, Germany’s Federal Cri</span><span data-contrast="auto">minal Police Office, and the Spanish National Police, among others, joined forces with the FBI to disrupt the Cracked and Nulled marketplaces.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">With the seizures of critical cybercrime infrastructure and the arrests of key figures involved in these online marketplaces, authorities have taken a step toward curbing the global trade in stolen data and <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/what-is-hacking/" title="hacking" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20995">hacking</a> tools. The operation not only highlights the widespread use of such platforms in criminal enterprises but also demonstrates the ongoing international commitment to combat online cybercrime.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
<span data-contrast="auto">The Justice Department, along with its law enforcement partners, has sent a clear message to cybercriminals operating in the dark corners of the <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://thecyberexpress.com/what-is-internet/" title="internet" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20998">internet</a>: they are not beyond reach. The takedown of Cracked and Nulled serves as a powerful reminder of the risks associated with engaging in illegal activities within online <a href="https://thecyberexpress.com/justice-department-shuts-popeyetools-website/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime marketplaces</a>. With the help of operations like Operation Talent, authorities are sending a warning to others who may attempt to <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://cyble.com/exploit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="exploit" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="20993">exploit</a> similar platforms for criminal purposes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"> </span>
https://thecyberexpress.com/internationa...nd-nulled/