An international law enforcement coalition has successfully dismantled Cracked and Nulled, two of the internet’s most prolific cybercrime forums. The operation, coordinated by Europol and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), neutralized platforms that collectively hosted over 10 million users and served as primary hubs for global illegal trade.
Operation Talent: A Coordinated Strike
Dubbed “Operation Talent,” the crackdown targeted sites that functioned as “one-stop shops” for illicit activities. According to Europol’s official statement, these forums facilitated the exchange of stolen data, malware, and sophisticated hacking tools, effectively operating as a “cybercrime-as-a-service” marketplace.
The intervention became public after cybersecurity researchers observed that the domains for Cracked, Nulled, Sellix, and StarkRDP were redirected to servers controlled by the FBI. Each site eventually displayed a formal seizure banner confirming the law enforcement action.
Arrests and Seizures
The operation, which spanned from Tuesday to Thursday, yielded significant tactical results across 10 countries. Authorities reported:
- Two arrests of German citizens residing in Germany and Spain.
- Seven properties raided and searched.
- Seizure of 17 servers and 50 electronic devices.
- Recovery of €300,000 ($313,000) in cash and cryptocurrency.
Beyond the physical assets, investigators successfully acquired sensitive forensic data, including email addresses, IP logs, and communication histories. This intelligence is expected to fuel further prosecutions in the United States, Spain, and Greece.
A Global Effort Against Cybercrime
Led by German authorities, the coalition included a wide-reaching network of international agencies, such as the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, and police forces from Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, and Spain. Official reports from the BKA highlight that these platforms were among the most significant trading grounds for digital crime currently active on the web.
Part of a Growing Trend
Operation Talent follows a series of high-profile takedowns aimed at disrupting the backbone of the cybercriminal economy. This includes the repeated seizures of BreachForums and the 2024 Operation Endgame, which targeted malware distribution platforms. As law enforcement capabilities evolve, these coordinated international efforts are increasingly successful in stripping anonymity from prolific hacking syndicates.