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'''Operation Shrouded Horizon''' was an international 18-month law enforcement investigation culminating in the July 2015 seizure of [[Darkode]], a [[cybercrime]] forum and [[black market]], and the arrest of several of its members. The case involved law enforcement agencies from 20 countries, led by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], which said in a statement the case is "believed to be the largest-ever coordinated law enforcement effort directed at an online cyber criminal forum".<ref name=fbi/>
'''Operation Shrouded Horizon''' was an 18-month international [[law enforcement]] investigation culminating in the July 2015 seizure of [[Darkode]], an online [[cybercrime]] [[online forum|forum]] and [[black market]], and the arrest of several of its members. The case involved law enforcement agencies from 20 countries, led by the [[United States]] [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] with the assistance of [[Europol]], in what the FBI called "the largest-ever coordinated law enforcement effort directed at an online cyber criminal forum".<ref name=fbi/><ref name=doj/>


Law enforcement agents gained access to the invite-only website through undisclosed means and collected information over an extended period, leading to equipment seizures, searches, or arrests of 70 individuals globally, leading to indictments against 12 for crimes including [[Computer Fraud and Abuse Act|computer fraud]], conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit [[mail and wire fraud|wire fraud]], conspiracy to commit [[money laundering]], conspiracy to send [[malware|malicious code]], [[spamming]], [[identity theft]], [[racketeering]], conspiracy to commit [[bank fraud]], [[extortion]], and conspiracy to commit [[Cybercrime_and_countermeasures#Access_Device_Fraud_Statutes|access device fraud]].<ref name=fbi/><ref name=independent/><ref name=allthedetails/><ref name=abc/><ref name=fireeye/><ref name=scariest/>
During the operation law enforcement agents gained access to the invite-only website and began collecting information.


Upon announcing the charges, [[United States Attorney]] David Hickton called the site "a cyber hornet's nest of criminal hackers" which "represented one of the gravest threats to the integrity of data on computers in the United States".<ref name=reuters/><ref name=independent/><ref name=doj/><ref name=cbc/>
⚫
Though led by the FBI, reports credit agencies in 19 other countries: [[Australia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Brazil]], [[Canada]], [[Colombia]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Cyprus]], [[Croatia]], [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[Germany]], [[Israel]], [[Latvia]], [[Macedonia]], [[Nigeria]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Sweden]], and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name=allthedetails/>


⚫
Though led by the FBI and assisted by Europol, reports credit agencies in 20 countries: [[Australia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Brazil]], [[Canada]], [[Colombia]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Cyprus]], [[Croatia]], [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[Germany]], [[Israel]], [[Latvia]], [[Macedonia]], [[Nigeria]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Sweden]], [[United Kingdom]], and United States.<ref name=allthedetails/><ref name=europol/>
According to ''[[Business Insider]]'' the operation resulted in a total of 70 arrests of Darkode members.<ref name=allthedetails/>


The operation also causd disruption to affiliated [[darknet market]], [[TheRealDeal]].<ref name=itonlytook/><ref name=cox/>
The operation also caused disruption to affiliated [[darknet market]], [[TheRealDeal]].<ref name=itonlytook/><ref name=cox/>

Only two weeks after the announcement of the raid, the site reappeared with increased security, employing [[Bitcoin]]-based [[Block chain (database)|block chain]] authentication and operating on the [[Tor (anonymity network)|Tor anonymity network]].<ref name=register/><ref name=clark/><ref name=kovacs/>


==References==
==References==
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<ref name=cox>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Joseph|title=The Mysterious Disappearance, and Reappearance, of a Dark Web Hacker Market|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-mysterious-disappearance-and-reappearance-of-a-dark-web-hacker-market|accessdate=31 July 2015|date=29 July 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=cox>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Joseph|title=The Mysterious Disappearance, and Reappearance, of a Dark Web Hacker Market|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-mysterious-disappearance-and-reappearance-of-a-dark-web-hacker-market|accessdate=31 July 2015|date=29 July 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=allthedetails>{{cite web|title=All the details about the FBI's Darknode takedown in 6 easy facts|work=Business Insider|last=Stevenson|first=Alastair|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/darkode-fbi-shuts-down-the-worlds-most-dangerous-hacking-forum-arrest-70-2015-7?r=UK&IR=T|date=16 July 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=allthedetails>{{cite web|title=All the details about the FBI's Darknode takedown in 6 easy facts|work=Business Insider|last=Stevenson|first=Alastair|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/darkode-fbi-shuts-down-the-worlds-most-dangerous-hacking-forum-arrest-70-2015-7?r=UK&IR=T|date=16 July 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=reuters>{{cite web|last=Trott|first=Bill|title=U.S. says computer hacking forum Darkode dismantled, 12 charged|work=Reuters|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/15/us-cybersecurity-usa-darkode-idUSKCN0PP1QW20150715|date=15 July 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=independent>{{cite web|work=The Independent|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/darkode-fbi-shuts-down-notorious-online-forum-and-cracks-cyber-hornets-nest-of-criminal-hackers-10391734.html|title=Darkode: FBI shuts down notorious online forum and cracks 'cyber hornet's nest of criminal hackers'|date=15 July 2015|last=Buncombe|first=August}}</ref>
<ref name=kovacs>{{cite web|url=http://www.securityweek.com/hacking-forum-darkode-resurfaces|work=Security Week|last=Kovacs|first=Eduard|date=28 July 2015|title=Hacking Forum Darkode Resurfaces}}</ref>
<ref name=register>{{cite web|work=The Register|title=Cybercrime forum Darkode returns with security, admins intact|last=Pauli|first=Darren|date=28 July 2015|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/28/darkode_returns/}}</ref>
<ref name=clark>{{cite web|work=Wired|last=Clark|first=Lian|title=Hacker forum Darkode is back and more secure than ever|date=28 July 2015|url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-07/28/darkode-back-and-more-secure}}</ref>
<ref name=doj>{{cite web|work=The United States Department of Justice|title=Major Computer Hacking Forum Dismantled|date=15 July 2015|url=http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/major-computer-hacking-forum-dismantled}}</ref>
<ref name=cbc>{{cite web|work=CBC News|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/darkode-cybercriminal-hacker-marketplace-shut-down-1.3153192|agency=Associated Press|date=15 July 2015|title=Darkode cybercriminal hacker marketplace shut down}}</ref>
<ref name=abc>{{cite web|work=ABC|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-16/us-says-computer-hacking-forum-darkode-dismantled-12-charged/6623276|date=16 July 2015|title=Darkode: Computer hacking forum dismantled; 12 people charged, US authorities say}}</ref>
<ref name=fireeye>{{cite web|work=The Register|title=FireEye intern nailed in Darkode downfall was VXer, say the Feds|last=Pauli|first=Darren|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/16/fireeye_intern_morgan_culbertson_allegedly_darkode_vxer_dendroid/|date=16 July 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=europol>{{cite web|work=Europol|url=https://www.europol.europa.eu/content/cybercriminal-darkode-forum-taken-down-through-global-action|date=15 July 2015|title=Cybercriminal Darkode Forum Taken Down Through Global Action}}</ref>
<ref name=scariest>{{cite web|work=Business Insider|title=These are the 3 scariest alleged Darkode hackers arrested during the FBI’s ‘Operation Shrouded Horizon’|last=Stevenson|first=Alastair|date=16 July 2015|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/darkode-suspects-include-an-ex-fireeye-intern-and-alleged-botnet-masters-2015-7}}</ref>
}}
}}


Revision as of 05:15, 1 August 2015

Operation Shrouded Horizon was an 18-month international law enforcement investigation culminating in the July 2015 seizure of Darkode, an online cybercrime forum and black market, and the arrest of several of its members. The case involved law enforcement agencies from 20 countries, led by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of Europol, in what the FBI called "the largest-ever coordinated law enforcement effort directed at an online cyber criminal forum".[1][2]

Law enforcement agents gained access to the invite-only website through undisclosed means and collected information over an extended period, leading to equipment seizures, searches, or arrests of 70 individuals globally, leading to indictments against 12 for crimes including computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to send malicious code, spamming, identity theft, racketeering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, extortion, and conspiracy to commit access device fraud.[1][3][4][5][6][7]

Upon announcing the charges, United States Attorney David Hickton called the site "a cyber hornet's nest of criminal hackers" which "represented one of the gravest threats to the integrity of data on computers in the United States".[8][3][2][9]

Though led by the FBI and assisted by Europol, reports credit agencies in 20 countries: Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Macedonia, Nigeria, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States.[4][10]

The operation also caused disruption to affiliated darknet market, TheRealDeal.[11][12]

Only two weeks after the announcement of the raid, the site reappeared with increased security, employing Bitcoin-based block chain authentication and operating on the Tor anonymity network.[13][14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Cyber Criminal Forum Taken Down". FBI.gov. 15 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Major Computer Hacking Forum Dismantled". The United States Department of Justice. 15 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b Buncombe, August (15 July 2015). "Darkode: FBI shuts down notorious online forum and cracks 'cyber hornet's nest of criminal hackers'". The Independent.
  4. ^ a b Stevenson, Alastair (16 July 2015). "All the details about the FBI's Darknode takedown in 6 easy facts". Business Insider.
  5. ^ "Darkode: Computer hacking forum dismantled; 12 people charged, US authorities say". ABC. 16 July 2015.
  6. ^ Pauli, Darren (16 July 2015). "FireEye intern nailed in Darkode downfall was VXer, say the Feds". The Register.
  7. ^ Stevenson, Alastair (16 July 2015). "These are the 3 scariest alleged Darkode hackers arrested during the FBI's 'Operation Shrouded Horizon'". Business Insider.
  8. ^ Trott, Bill (15 July 2015). "U.S. says computer hacking forum Darkode dismantled, 12 charged". Reuters.
  9. ^ "Darkode cybercriminal hacker marketplace shut down". CBC News. Associated Press. 15 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Cybercriminal Darkode Forum Taken Down Through Global Action". Europol. 15 July 2015.
  11. ^ Stevenson, Alastair (28 July 2015). "It only took 2 weeks for the world's most dangerous hacking forum to get back online after the FBI shut it down". Business Insider.
  12. ^ Cox, Joseph (29 July 2015). "The Mysterious Disappearance, and Reappearance, of a Dark Web Hacker Market". Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  13. ^ Pauli, Darren (28 July 2015). "Cybercrime forum Darkode returns with security, admins intact". The Register.
  14. ^ Clark, Lian (28 July 2015). "Hacker forum Darkode is back and more secure than ever". Wired.
  15. ^ Kovacs, Eduard (28 July 2015). "Hacking Forum Darkode Resurfaces". Security Week.
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