by Daniel Croft
Global law enforcement agencies have banded together to take down one of the largest criminal marketplaces in existence, known for selling stolen credentials.
Genesis Market, which has had a presence on both the clear web and the dark web since 2017, is one of the most well-known marketplaces that host stolen credentials and information obtained through cyber theft, with the data being sold used by criminals to launch attacks.
“The Genesis Market is a prime example of how in a post-COVID world, more than ever before, cyber threats to consumers can swiftly become cyber threats to enterprises,” said the head of threat intelligence at the Trellix Advanced Research Centre, John Fokker.
“The numerous accounts for sale on the cyber criminal marketplace that included corporate emails represent the very cyber security challenge of having a dispersed workforce using personal devices for their jobs.”
The international investigation and takedown, known as Operation Cookie Monster, was led by the FBI and saw Europol, Dutch Police, and the AFP in conjunction with state law enforcement.