First VPN Dismantled in Global Takedown Over Use by 25 Ransomware Groups

Authorities in Europe and North America have successfully dismantled First VPN Service, a criminal virtual private network used by approximately 25 ransomware groups to conceal the origins of cyberattacks. The operation was led by France and the Netherlands with support from multiple nations. The takedown targeted infrastructure used for ransomware attacks, data theft, scanning, and denial-of-service operations.