In a major victory against cybercrime, an international law enforcement operation has successfully taken down two of the largest cybercrime forums in the world—Cracked and Nulled. These platforms, which had a combined user base of over 10 million, served as marketplaces for stolen data, hacking tools, and cybercrime-as-a-service.
The operation, led by German authorities with the support of Europol and law enforcement agencies from eight countries, resulted in multiple arrests, the seizure of critical infrastructure, and the confiscation of nearly €300,000 in cash and cryptocurrency.
As cybercriminals continue to leverage underground forums for illegal activities, this operation represents a significant disruption to the global cybercrime ecosystem. However, cybersecurity professionals must remain vigilant, as such platforms often re-emerge in different forms.
Inside the Takedown: Operation Talent
From January 28 to 30, 2025, law enforcement agencies from multiple nations launched a coordinated takedown operation, codenamed Operation Talent. This multi-agency effort led to:
✅ 2 key suspects arrested
✅ 7 properties searched
✅ 17 servers and over 50 electronic devices seized
✅ 12 cybercrime domains taken offline
✅ €300,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies confiscated
In addition to shutting down Cracked.io and Nulled.to, law enforcement also took down:
- Sellix – a financial processor used for illicit transactions on Cracked.io.
- StarkRDP – a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) hosting service promoted on both forums, allowing cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Authorities estimate that criminals operating on these platforms earned over €1 million in illicit profits.
What Were Cracked.io and Nulled.to?
These two cybercrime forums functioned as one-stop marketplaces for illegal cyber activities, providing:
🔹 Hacking tools & exploits – Including malware, ransomware kits, and credential stuffing tools.
🔹 Cybercrime-as-a-service (CaaS) – Selling DDoS-for-hire, phishing kits, and AI-driven attack automation tools.
🔹 Stolen data – Leaked credentials, financial information, and compromised databases.
🔹 Exploit tutorials – Step-by-step guides on bypassing security measures and exploiting software vulnerabilities.
🔹 AI-powered cybercrime – The forums promoted the use of AI for automating attacks, crafting realistic phishing emails, and bypassing CAPTCHA verifications.
These services lowered the barrier to entry for cybercrime, allowing even novice attackers to execute sophisticated attacks against individuals, businesses, and governments.
Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) played a key role in coordinating the takedown, working closely with the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT) based in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Role of Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS)
The rise of Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS) has fundamentally changed the cyber threat landscape. Criminals no longer need deep technical expertise—they can simply buy pre-built attack tools from underground forums.
Why is this a growing concern?
📌 Lower entry barrier – Individuals with no prior hacking experience can launch sophisticated attacks.
📌 AI-driven automation – Attackers leverage AI-powered scripts to scan for vulnerabilities and generate realistic phishing content.
📌 Distributed cyber threats – Forums like Cracked and Nulled enabled global cooperation among cybercriminals, making attribution and law enforcement efforts more challenging.
The takedown of these platforms is a significant step forward, but cybersecurity experts warn that new forums will emerge to replace them.
10 Ways to Protect Against Cybercrime Forum Threats
As cybercrime forums continue to evolve, organizations and individuals must adopt proactive security measures. Here are 10 essential steps to enhance cybersecurity resilience:
1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Enforce MFA on all accounts to prevent unauthorized access, even if login credentials are compromised.
2. Monitor the Dark Web for Leaked Data
Use dark web monitoring tools to check if employee credentials or customer data have been leaked.
3. Enforce Strong Password Policies
Encourage long, complex passwords and password managers to reduce the risk of credential stuffing attacks.
4. Regularly Update Software & Patch Vulnerabilities
Apply security patches immediately to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting known vulnerabilities.
5. Train Employees to Detect Phishing Attacks
Conduct ongoing cybersecurity awareness training to recognize phishing emails, fake login pages, and social engineering tactics.
6. Restrict Access to Remote Desktop Services
Disable Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) unless necessary, and use VPNs with strict access controls.
7. Deploy Advanced Threat Detection Systems
Use AI-driven endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect unusual activity and zero-day exploits.
8. Collaborate with Threat Intelligence Networks
Join Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) to receive real-time threat intelligence and attack trends.
9. Conduct Regular Security Audits & Penetration Testing
Perform routine penetration tests to identify weaknesses before attackers do.
10. Backup Critical Data & Implement a Ransomware Response Plan
Regularly back up sensitive data and establish clear incident response protocols in case of a ransomware attack.
Conclusion
The takedown of Cracked.io and Nulled.to represents a major victory in the fight against cybercrime. However, as history has shown, new platforms will emerge, and cybercriminals will adapt.
Organizations must stay ahead by adopting proactive security measures, investing in threat intelligence, and collaborating with global law enforcement.
With the rise of Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS) and AI-powered cyberattacks, the battle against cybercrime is far from over. But with continued law enforcement efforts and strong cybersecurity defenses, we can make the digital world a safer place.
