Law enforcement agencies from 19 countries collaborated to dismantle LabHost, an online platform used by cybercriminals to sell phishing kits, which are tools for creating fake websites to steal personal information. Europol reports. the operation targeted LabHost, which had amassed had 10,000 thousand registered subscribers paying a monthly fee of $249.
During the operation, 37 suspects were arrested and over 70 locations were searched worldwide. Authorities uncovered significant amounts of stolen data, including 480-thousand bank card numbers, 64-thousand pin numbers, and over a million passwords used for various online services. The European Union law enforcement agency Europol played a central role in coordinating the international effort, collaborating with agencies like the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI.
Europol says that among LabHost's illicit services was a phishing campaign management tool called LabRat that allowed cybercriminals to monitor and control phishing attacks in real time, enabling them to bypass security measures like two-factor authentication. The takedown of LabHost is a significant victory in the ongoing fight against cybercrime, and demonstrates the power of international cooperation in combating online threats and protecting individuals' sensitive information.