Feds Seize Bulletproof Hosting Service ”Lolek Hosted”

1. Lolek Hosted, a prominent bulletproof hosting provider, has been dismantled in a coordinated operation by US and Polish authorities.
2. The joint effort aimed to curb cybercriminals’ access to crucial tools for malicious activities by targeting the hosting platform.
3. The takedown was marked by a banner on the seized website displaying logos of the FBI and IRS-CI, confirming the seizure.
4. Both US and Polish authorities, along with law enforcement agencies, played vital roles in the operation, though details remain undisclosed.
5. This action aligns with a broader trend of international law enforcement agencies intensifying efforts to dismantle cybercriminal networks and their supportive platforms.

In a significant blow to cybercriminals’ anonymous infrastructure, authorities from the United States and Poland successfully dismantled the notorious bulletproof hosting provider, Lolek Hosted, this week. The joint effort aims to curtail cybercriminals’ unfettered access to critical tools for carrying out malicious activities.

As of the early hours of Tuesday, visitors to the Lolek Hosted website were met with a banner prominently displaying the logos of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The banner stated:

“This domain has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation as part of a coordinated law enforcement action taken against Lolek Hosted.”

The operation also saw the active involvement of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice.

Domain seizure notice uploaded by authorities (Screenshot: Hackread.com)

Additionally, Polish authorities played a crucial role, with significant support provided by the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice and the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime in Krakow.

An official spokesperson from the IRS confirmed the legitimacy of the seizure notice, affirming its role in the takedown. However, both the FBI and Polish authorities refused to provide any details regarding the seizure.

Lolek Hosted, a widely used bulletproof hosting provider, has been operating since 2009 and has established itself as a key player in the realm of anonymous hosting platforms.

Operating from a European data center, the company offered services that shielded clients’ identities and turned a blind eye to the content they posted. This approach made bulletproof hosting services a haven for criminals seeking to disseminate malware, orchestrate botnet attacks, and execute various forms of cybercrime and fraud.

Archive view of the now seized Lolek Hosted domain (Screenshot: Hackread.com)

In recent years, authorities have escalated their efforts to dismantle bulletproof hosting services and other platforms aiding cybercrime by bringing the individuals responsible to justice. Notable cases include the seizure of DoubeVPN, the takedown of the infamous Safe-Inet VPN service, and the INTERPOL’s collaborative effort to dismantle the ’16shop’ phishing platform, resulting in arrests.

The joint operation involving INTERPOL, Indonesian, Japanese, and US authorities, as well as private sector partners, dismantled the ’16shop’ phishing-as-a-service platform. The platform offered phishing kits to hackers, enabling email scams to steal sensitive information from victims.

Nevertheless, these joint efforts serve as a clear indicator that law enforcement agencies worldwide are intensifying their efforts to dismantle the foundations of cybercriminal networks, leaving no safe haven for those seeking to exploit the digital realm for illicit gains.

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I’m a student and cybersecurity writer. On a random Sunday, I am likely to be figuring out life and reading Kafka.