The U.S. Department of Justice last week announced a sweeping crackdown on distributed denial-of-service (DDoS)-for-hire services, seizing 27 domains tied to illegal cyberattack platforms and filing criminal charges against two alleged operators — one of them from Anchorage, and the other from Brazil. The move marks an escalation in the fight against cybercrime, targeting services that have facilitated millions of attacks on victims worldwide.
The seized websites, commonly referred to as “booter” services, enabled paying customers to launch DDoS attacks that overwhelm targeted systems with excessive internet traffic, rendering them inoperable.
Victims included schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, and private individuals. Law enforcement described the services as a major threat to internet stability, often disrupting essential services and causing significant financial and reputational harm.
The Justice Department did not say what kind of attacks were initiated by the Alaska-associated suspect.
Two individuals have been charged in connection with operating booter services:
- Ricardo Cesar Colli (aka “TotemanGames”), 22, of Brazil, was charged in Los Angeles with running a service known as Securityhide.net. Colli faces conspiracy and computer fraud charges under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
- A defendant whose name remains under seal, was charged in Anchorage but has not been rounded up, as of Dec. 11. U.S. prosecutors are coordinating with international partners to secure the individual’s arrest and extradition, the DOJ said.
Both cases were developed through investigations led by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Anchorage field offices.
Booter services, often marketed as “stressers” for legitimate network testing, have long been a cover for illegal activities. Investigators revealed that communications between site administrators and customers made it clear these services were being used to attack third parties, not the customers’ own systems.
The seized domains collectively facilitated millions of DDoS attacks targeting organizations and individuals globally. The operation comes ahead of the holiday season, a period notorious for spikes in cyberattacks.
“DDoS attacks are a potent cyber weapon with the proven potential to disrupt critical information systems and infrastructure,” said Kenneth DeChellis, Special Agent in Charge of DCIS Cyber Field Office.
Operation PowerOFF builds on the Justice Department’s success in recent years, including the seizure of over 75 booter domains and prosecution of nine defendants in similar cases. This latest action targets all known booter sites, with ongoing investigations into their operators and customers.
Good news. Thanks, FBI. Now go catch the Anchorage perp. I’d love to see him jailed for 25 years.
Thank God! Holy moly, I hope it sends a clear message and helps define law enforcement roles and responsibilities and how to report in addition to jurisdiction issues. IC3.org is not responsive or clear neither is any agency.
I’m just so thankful that our computer voting systems are so secure. Thanks FBI.
Yeah that makes sense. Don’t tell Alaskans who the Anchorage guy is Just in case we could help you find him, Wouldn’t want that now would we?
They’re probably protecting it so he doesn’t flee to some unknown or get killed by some idiots acting outsider they’re authority who have been the victims of his ruse.
Perfect! Can you believe these jerkfaces actually think no one knows what they’re doing. These people are really arrogant above the law types, they are law enforcement too; It’s how the Alaska Native leaders run things mafia atyle…. one day they’ll get caught, as many are… Duncan, Kitka, Marrs, Mandregan, Mary & the shits et al… needs a new gig
Why wouldn’t the FBI release the name of the Anchorage perp? Could it be that he/she has fled to a country that has been in the news constantly the last year or so? That’s my guess.
Not believable. I don’t believe any of this farce.
The FBI really do love their patsies.
Create a problem, anticipate the response, provide solution.
If I were a power hungry entity (the FBI) who’s sole purpose is to find criminal activity, and it happens to be a slow season, I would create problems to justify my existence.
The call, is most likely, coming from within the house.
Just sayin’.
I could be wrong. It is possible the “suspect” is not already an asset. If that is the case, they will probably be put on the FBI payroll to add to the insatiable beast.
When one exists as a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Why would anyone wear a hoody with the lights out while using a laptop. Stupid image for stupid viewers.
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