A VPN built for criminals just got shut down by Europol and Eurojust
European authorities have shut down a VPN service known as First VPN, which was marketed to criminals on underground forums and linked to various cybercrimes. The operation was carried out by Europol and Eurojust, with the help of law enforcement and judicial authorities from 16 countries. The shutdown of First VPN is seen as a significant blow to cybercriminals, who relied on the service to remain anonymous and evade law enforcement action.
- ▪First VPN was marketed on Russian-language underground forums as a trusted platform for cybercriminals.
- ▪The VPN service was involved in various cybercrime activities, including ransomware attacks, large-scale fraud operations, and data theft.
- ▪The operation to shut down First VPN involved authorities from France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
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Security The Web europe crime A VPN built for criminals just got shut down by Europol and Eurojust First VPN was marketed on underground forums and is linked to ransomware, fraud, and data theft By Alfonso Maruccia May 22, 2026, 13:08 Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. You Cannot Hide: Virtual private networks can be useful tools for securing business practices and protecting people privacy online. When used by a criminal group, a robust VPN service provider becomes a massive security threat requiring an international counteraction effort.
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