{"id":51629,"date":"2022-12-14T15:34:10","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T23:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=51629"},"modified":"2022-12-14T15:34:10","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T23:34:10","slug":"feds-charge-six-defendants-with-allegedly-operating-websites-that-offered-computer-attack-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=51629","title":{"rendered":"Feds Charge Six Defendants with Allegedly Operating Websites that Offered Computer Attack Services"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Part of International Efforts Targeting So-Called \u2018Booter\u2019 Services,<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

FBI Seizes 48 Internet Domains that Offered DDoS-for-Hire Services<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

LOS ANGELES\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The Justice Department Wednesday announced the court-authorized seizure of 48 internet domains associated with some of the world\u2019s leading DDoS-for-hire services<\/span><\/p>\n

Federal prosecutors charged six defendants who allegedly oversaw computer attack platforms commonly called \u201cbooter\u201d services.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The FBI is now seizing the websites that allowed paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS, attacks that flood targeted computers with information and prevent them from accessing the internet. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, <\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors stated that this includes educational institutions, government agencies, gaming platforms, and millions of individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and disrupt internet connections.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The websites targeted in this operation were used to launch millions of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Cyber Crimes —
Source: FBI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While some of these services claimed to offer \u201cstresser\u201d services that could purportedly be used for network testing, officials stated that the FBI determined these claims to be a pretense, and \u201cthousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers\u2026make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,\u201d according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.<\/span><\/p>\n

The coordinated law enforcement action comes just before the Christmas holiday period, which typically brings a significant increase in DDoS attacks across the gaming world, officials noted.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"<\/a> In conjunction with the website seizures, the FBI, the United Kingdom\u2019s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. <\/span><\/p>\n

The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cyber criminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, as well as to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThese booter services allow anyone to launch cyberattacks that harm individual victims and compromise everyone\u2019s ability to access the internet,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. \u201cThis week\u2019s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet\u2019s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cCriminals are increasingly targeting essential services and our critical infrastructure with DDoS attacks that can cost victims valuable time, money and reputational harm,\u201d said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \u201cWhether a criminal launches an attack independently or pays a skilled contractor to carry one out, the FBI will work with victims and use the considerable tools at our disposal to identify the person or group responsible. Victims of cybercrime are urged to contact their local FBI field office or file a complaint with the FBI\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/a> This week, law enforcement actions include filing charges against six defendants across the United States who allegedly offered booter services. <\/span><\/p>\n

Each defendant allegedly operated at least one website that offered one-stop DDoS services and subscriptions of various lengths and attack volumes. <\/span><\/p>\n

The FBI posed as a customer in these criminal cases and conducted test attacks to confirm that the booter site functioned as advertised.<\/span><\/p>\n

Central District of California<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prosecutors in Los Angeles this week filed four criminal informations charging four defendants with running booter services.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The defendants charged in Los Angeles are:<\/span><\/p>\n