Operation Magnus: Law Enforcement Seizes Control of Redline and Meta

The Dutch National Police announced that they have gained full access to all servers used to distribute Redline and Meta malware—two of the most widely utilized cybercriminal tools on the web.

Infostealers pose a grave threat to cybersecurity and are often marketed under the “malware-as-a-service” (MaaS) model. Such programs infect victims’ devices, subsequently harvesting sensitive information, bank card details, and autofill passwords. The gathered data is then packaged into logs and sold on the dark web to other cybercriminals seeking entry into organizations via leaked credentials.

In collaboration with the FBI and other partners from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, Dutch authorities have announced the neutralization of these two infostealers on a dedicated website for the operation, named Operation Magnus.

The website also features a video styled as a cybercriminal advertisement, proclaiming a “final update” for both Redline and Meta malware. The international operation enabled law enforcement to access the servers of both malware tools, showcasing their administrative panels, source code, and usernames of individuals deploying these tools.

Additionally, the website hosts a countdown timer, marking the time remaining until the anticipated release of further details.