Taking Down AVCheck and Other Cybercrime Services 🔥
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service, executed an operation to shut down the AVCheck website, a platform utilized for malware testing.
In a significant blow to the cybercriminal underworld, AVCheck.net, a notorious site offering analysis services for nefarious activities, has been taken offline by the FBI in collaboration with Dutch and Finnish police. Known as a Counter Antivirus (CAV) service, AVCheck allowed cybercrooks to test their malicious software undetected.
The defaced AVCheck.net now displays the usual FBI takedown notice. This action is part of Operation Endgame, an international initiative aimed at dismantling cybercriminal infrastructure - specifically targeting malware and ransomware activities.
The Crippling of Crypting Services 🔒
Two other services, Cryptor.biz and Crypt.guru, which facilitated the "crypting" of malware, have also been dismantled as part of the investigation. These crypting services helped cybercriminals remain undetected by antivirus providers during attacks.
The Fight Against Cybercrime 🤜🤜
Matthijs Jaspers, Team Lead of the Dutch High Tech Crime Team, praised this move as an "important step" in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, stating that it disrupts the activities of cybercriminals at the earliest stages, preventing potential victims.
The Largest Cybercrime Operation Yet 🌐
Operation Endgame is a massive, worldwide effort involving law enforcement agencies from France, Germany, Ukraine, Portugal, and other countries, aiming to dismantle key cybercrime infrastructure. The operation, first initiated in May 2024, has since escalated into a second phase in May 2025.
During the most recent action week, around €3.5 million (approximately $3.5 million) in cryptocurrency was seized, adding to the total seized amount of über €21.2 million. At least 20 international arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the operation.
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Cybersecurity efforts in the technology sector have seen significant progress with the takedown of AVCheck.net, a Counter Antivirus service linked to cybercrime, as well as Cryptor.biz and Crypt.guru, both crypting services that helped cybercriminals stay undetected. These actions are part of Operation Endgame, an international initiative targeting malware and ransomware activities in the realm of general-news and crime-and-justice.
