Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Greece Arrests Suspect in Global Europol Cybercrime Crackdown
Imagine a group of international police, called Europol, working with police in different countries.
They found a big network of bad computer programs that steal information from people's computers, like passwords and money from online accounts.
These programs were hidden on hundreds of thousands of computers, and many people didn't even know they were infected.
The police busted this network, shut down many computer servers, and took away websites that were used to spread the bad programs.
In Greece, they arrested a man they believe made one of these bad programs, called VenomRAT, and sold it to others.
They found the program's code, evidence he was selling it, and took his computer stuff and some digital money he had.
This whole operation helped stop cybercriminals from stealing more information.
Greece arrested a 38-year-old Albanian national in Athens as part of Europol's global cybercrime crackdown, 'Operation Endgame'.
Authorities dismantled malware infrastructure, including servers and domains, that infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide.
The arrested man is alleged to be the creator and seller of the infostealer and RAT malware 'VenomRAT' since 2020.
The malware was designed to steal information through keystroke recording, webcam access, and cryptocurrency wallet hacking.
Confiscated items include malware source code, cryptocurrency accounts, hard drives, USB sticks, and a digital wallet worth over $140,000.
- Who
- Europol, Greek police, and authorities from the US and France
- What
- Arrested a suspect and dismantled a global cybercrime infrastructure involving malware like VenomRAT and infostealers, impacting hundreds of thousands of computers.
- When
- Arrest made on November 3, part of an ongoing crackdown announced by Europol on a Thursday.
- Where
- Athens, Greece (arrest); Operations spanned 10 countries including the US and France.
- Why
- To combat international cybercrime by disrupting malware operations that steal credentials, personal information, and cryptocurrency.
Law Enforcement Perspective
Cybercriminal Perspective (Implied)
Nature of the Malware
Law Enforcement Perspective
The malware (infostealers, RATs, botnets) was designed to steal information, capture keystrokes, use webcams, and hack crypto wallets, impacting hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide.
Cybercriminal Perspective (Implied)
The malware was offered as a service with prices ranging from 150 euros a month to 1,550 euros a year, suggesting a commercial intent for its users.
Impact of Operation Endgame
Law Enforcement Perspective
Operation Endgame dismantled significant malware infrastructure, taking down 1,025 servers, seizing 20 domains, and arresting a key suspect, disrupting the operations of infostealers like Rhadamanthys and the RAT VenomRAT.
Cybercriminal Perspective (Implied)
The operation led to the arrest of a suspect, the seizure of digital assets including cryptocurrencies worth over $140,000, and the confiscation of malware source code and devices.
- Operation Name
- Operation Endgame
- Arrested Individual
- 38-year-old Albanian national
- Arrest Location
- Athens, Greece
- Arrest Date
- November 3
- Alleged Role
- Creator and seller of VenomRAT since 2020
- Malware Types Targeted
- Infostealers (Rhadamanthys), Remote Access Trojan (VenomRAT), Botnet (Elysium)
- Servers Disrupted
- 1,025
- Domains Seized
- 20
- Confiscated Crypto Value
- $140,424