Two of the World’s Largest Cybercrime Forums CRUMBLE in Global Takedown

In a MASSIVE victory for global cybersecurity, an international coalition of law enforcement agencies has SHUT DOWN two of the most notorious hacking forums on the internet. Cracked and Nulled, platforms with over 10 million users, were seized in a coordinated strike led by Europol and Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA). This operation, codenamed “Operation Talent,” marks a HUGE step forward in the fight against cybercrime.

“These sites were not just forums—they were one-stop shops for cybercrime, offering everything from stolen data to hacking tools and malware.”

Europol

The Takedown: How It Went Down

On Thursday, Europol and the BKA announced the seizures of Cracked and Nulled, calling them “the world’s two largest trading platforms for cybercrime.” The operation began earlier in the week, with cybersecurity experts noticing that the domains for Cracked, Nulled, and two other sites—Sellix and StarkRDP—had been redirected to FBI-controlled servers. By Wednesday, all four sites displayed a banner announcing the law enforcement action.

• 2 arrests made in Germany and Spain
• 7 properties searched across multiple countries
• 17 servers and 50 electronic devices seized
• €300,000 ($313,000) in cash and cryptocurrency confiscated

The Global Reach of Operation Talent

This wasn’t just a local effort—it was a global collaboration. Law enforcement agencies from 10 countries, including the FBI, Australia’s Federal Police, and Spain’s Guardia Civil, joined forces to bring down these cybercrime empires. The operation also identified 12 individuals involved in running the platforms, with two German citizens arrested and others facing prosecution in the U.S., Spain, and Greece.

“We’ve acquired email addresses, IP addresses, and communication histories from the seized forums. This is just the beginning.”

Bundeskriminalamt (BKA)

Why This Matters

Cybercrime forums like Cracked and Nulled have been a breeding ground for illegal activity, offering everything from stolen data to hacking tools and malware. These platforms have fueled countless cyberattacks, costing businesses and individuals billions of dollars. By taking them down, law enforcement has disrupted a major pipeline of cybercrime activity.

What’s Next?

This operation is part of a larger trend of international efforts to combat cybercrime. In 2023 and 2024, similar actions targeted notorious forums like BreachForums and malware operations under Operation Endgame. While these takedowns are significant, the fight is far from over. Cybercriminals are resilient, but so are the agencies hunting them.

As Europol and its partners continue to dismantle these networks, one thing is clear: cybercrime doesn’t pay. And for the millions of users who relied on Cracked and Nulled, it’s time to find a new line of work.