INTERPOL’s Massive Infostealer Crackdown: A Game Changer for Global Cybersecurity

In a significant strike against cybercriminal infrastructure, INTERPOL has led a coordinated global operation Operation Secure that has dismantled over 20,000malicious IP addresses and domains linked to infostealer malware. Conducted between January and April 2025, the effort saw 26 countries across Asia and the South Pacific join forces weaken one of the most pervasive threats in today’s digital landscape.

Why It Matters

‍Infostealers are silent threats that exfiltrate sensitive data such as credentials, credit card information, and crypto wallets. These stolen "logs" are often sold on dark web markets and are frequently used to launch ransomware, Business Email Compromise (BEC), and large-scale fraud campaigns. Operation Secure has not only severed key links in this chain it has reset the battlefield in favor of defenders.

Operation Highlights

• 41 servers seized, 32 suspects arrested
• 100+ GB of criminal data captured
• 216,000+ victims notified, empowering them to take immediate action
• 79% of flagged malicious IPs neutralized
• Cooperation with private partners including Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro
• Vietnam led in enforcement with 18 arrests, cash and SIM cards seized
• Hong Kong identified 117 C2 servers operating across 89 ISPs

The Security Ecosystem Wins

This operation is more than just a numbers game. Here's why this crackdown is a major win for cybersecurity professionals and the cybersecurity ecosystem:

1. Reduced Attack Surface: With thousands of infostealer-linked nodes offline, attackers have lost key assets that enabled credential theft and initial access for ransomware.
2. Increased Visibility: The intelligence generated from seized infrastructure and shared among nations will fuel better threat detection and faster incident response across the region.
3. Public Awareness and Action: Notifying over 216,000 victims gives individuals and businesses a chance to regain control; an essential step in breaking the cycle of compromise and re-compromise.
4. Model for Future Cooperation: Operation Secure proves that cross-border collaboration backed by public-private intelligence sharing is not only possible it’s effective.

Participating Countries

Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea (Rep. of), Laos, Macau (China), Malaysia, Maldives, Nauru, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

As threat actors evolve, the global cybersecurity ecosystem must evolve faster. Operations like these don’t just disrupt cybercrime, they send a clear message: collaboration, intelligence, and swift action can and will dismantle even the most covert digital threats.