International law enforcement officials late last week announced a crackdown on a cybercriminal network responsible for the proliferation of the Imminent Monitor Remote Access Trojan (IM-RAT).
The coordinated operation, executed by authorities based in Australia, Europe and Colombia, resulted in the takedown of IM-RAT web page and infrastructure, and the arrest of 13 people. Additionally, law enforcement executed 85 warrants and seized 434 devices, according to a Nov. 30 press release from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
More than a dozen agencies were involved in the joint effort. The AFP’s Cybercrime Investigations teams spearheaded the investigation, while Europol and Eurojust coordinated the international activity.
Available for purchase for as little as $25, IM-RAT is an affordable, easy-to-operate spyware tool that allows remote attackers to access users’ files, record keystrokes and snoop on victims via their webcams. Authorities estimate that IM-RAT has attracted more than 14,500 buyers and has victimized tens of thousands.
“The offenses enabled by IM-RAT are often a precursor to more insidious forms of data theft and victim manipulation, which can have far reaching privacy and safety consequences for those affected. These are real c ..
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