Cybercrime Bust: Two Sudanese Nationals Charged in Major DDoS Network

Recent developments in the world of cybercrime have revealed a significant distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) network linked to two Sudanese nationals. The charges come after an extensive international investigation into the activities of Anonymous Sudan, a notorious cybercrime group responsible for launching over 35,000 DDoS attacks worldwide.

These attacks have resulted in more than $10 million in damages, with a primary focus on targeting US entities, including government agencies and major technology platforms.

Europol’s Coordination Efforts

Europol played a crucial role in coordinating the European aspects of the investigation, fostering cooperation among law enforcement agencies in Sweden, Luxembourg, and France. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and the European Investment Bank also provided valuable intelligence to help uncover the criminal infrastructure behind the attacks.

Europol’s coordination efforts were instrumental in facilitating swift action and cross-border cooperation, ultimately leading to the identification of the perpetrators and supporting US authorities in their crackdown on cybercrime.

Victims of Anonymous Sudan’s attacks span across sensitive government bodies such as the US Department of Justice (DoJ), Department of Defense (DoD), FBI, and the US State Department, as well as critical infrastructure and private sector organizations in both the US and Europe.

The group’s DDoS tool was even sold as a service to other criminal actors, further amplifying their impact.

For further information on Europol’s role in combating cybercrime, explore Deepfakes Set to Be Used Extensively in Organized Crime.

Operation PowerOFF: Taking Down Cybercrime

In March 2024, the FBI, collaborating with the US Attorney’s Office, executed seizure warrants to dismantle Anonymous Sudan’s DDoS infrastructure. This operation resulted in the confiscation of computer servers used to orchestrate and manage the attacks, as well as accounts containing the source code for the group’s DDoS tools.

These actions are part of a broader global initiative called Operation PowerOFF, aimed at disrupting DDoS-for-hire services and holding those responsible accountable for their actions. Alongside Europol’s coordination, key players in the investigation included the FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.