International Crackdown: DDoS-for-Hire Services Terminated, Arrests Made in PowerOFF Operation

During the international operation PowerOFF, intelligence agencies dismantled 27 DDoS-for-hire platforms. Authorities arrested three administrators in France and Germany and identified over 300 users of these services.

Among the terminated booter platforms were zdstresser.net, orbitalstress.net, and starkstresser.net, with seizure notices now displayed on their websites. In the Netherlands, four individuals aged 22 to 26 were detained, one of whom is accused of orchestrating 4,169 attacks, while others carried out hundreds of DDoS operations.

Dutch police identified approximately 200 users of such services within the country. Some will receive warnings, while others may face legal action depending on the severity of their involvement. Personal meetings with these users are also being conducted.

The U.S. Department of Justice charged two individuals linked to DDoS services. Among them is 22-year-old Brazilian Ricardo César Colli, known as “TotemanGames,” who managed platforms Securityhide.net and Securityhide.com. The second accused individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, operated significant DDoS services.

Authorities noted that holiday seasons are peak periods for such attacks, which cause substantial financial losses, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. The motivations range from economic sabotage to ideological goals.

Previously, in October 2024, the PowerOFF operation led to the seizure of one of the largest DDoS platforms, Dstat.cc, and the arrest of two suspects associated with its activities. In July, the UK reported the takedown of another service, DigitalStress.