Ethical Hacking News
KrebsOnSecurity.com Celebrates 16th Anniversary: A Year of Uncovering Global Cybercrime Operations
In this year-long retrospective, we'll delve into the notable cases and trends that made headlines on KrebsOnSecurity.com over the past 12 months, highlighting the continued evolution of global cybercrime operations and the relentless efforts of security researchers to uncover their secrets.
KrebsOnSecurity.com has successfully navigated its 16th anniversary amidst significant milestones and continued threats to global cybersecurity. The site's investigative team shed light on Stark Industries Solutions Ltd., a "bulletproof hosting" provider that facilitated Kremlin cyberattacks and disinformation efforts in May 2024. Cryptomus, a Canadian financial firm, was exposed for its connections to Russian cryptocurrency exchanges and significant breach of anti-money laundering regulations in December 2024. A record $176 million fine was imposed on Cryptomus by Canadian regulatory bodies in October 2025. Aisuru, a financially malicious botnet, leveraged compromised IoT devices to proxy services and was linked to Kimwolf, an extensive Android botnet, in October 2025. Chinese security firm XLab profiled Kimwolf, highlighting its fixation on Brian Krebs, a prominent cybersecurity investigative journalist. The rise of China-based phishing kit vendors has been a significant concern for KrebsOnSecurity.com, with nearly six stories dissecting their nefarious activities in 2025. Funnull content delivery network was sanctioned by the US government in May and recognized as a primary source of investment/romance scams. The US Department of Justice indicted proprietors of a Pakistan-based e-commerce company for conspiring to distribute synthetic opioids in the United States. An academic cheating empire linked to Google Ads was examined, earning tens of millions of dollars in revenue and having curious ties to a Kremlin-connected oligarch.
In a year marked by significant milestones, notable breakthroughs, and continued threats to global cybersecurity, KrebsOnSecurity.com has successfully navigated its 16th anniversary. As we reflect on the past year, it's essential to acknowledge the unwavering dedication of our readers, who have consistently engaged with our content and provided invaluable support.
The journey began in May 2024, when our investigative team shed light on Stark Industries Solutions Ltd., a "bulletproof hosting" provider that played a pivotal role in facilitating Kremlin cyberattacks and disinformation efforts. Our analysis revealed the stark realities of this entity's activities, including its connections to sanctioned individuals and entities. This exposé marked a critical juncture in our coverage, highlighting the complexities of global cybercrime operations.
Fast-forwarding to December 2024, KrebsOnSecurity.com profiled Cryptomus, a Canadian financial firm that emerged as a payment processor for numerous Russian cryptocurrency exchanges. Our investigation exposed the intricate web of connections between Cryptomus and various Russian-speaking cybercrime services, revealing a significant breach of anti-money laundering regulations.
In October 2025, Canadian regulatory bodies imposed a record $176 million fine on Cryptomus, further underscoring the consequences of such egregious violations. This high-profile incident serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies worldwide to combat global cybercrime operations.
Beyond these notable cases, KrebsOnSecurity.com continued to scrutinize the activities of various cybercrime entities, including Aisuru, a financially malicious botnet that leveraged compromised IoT devices to proxy services. In October 2025, it became apparent that at least some of Aisuru's disruptive botnet activity was linked to Kimwolf, an extensive and highly invasive Android botnet comprised of approximately 1.83 million infected devices.
Chinese security firm XLab profiled Kimwolf in December, highlighting the author's fixation on Brian Krebs, a prominent cybersecurity investigative journalist. This revelation underscores the cat-and-mouse nature of global cybercrime operations, where entities continually adapt and evolve to evade detection.
Throughout the past year, KrebsOnSecurity.com has tackled various themes, including phishing, SMS phishing (smishing), and investment scams. The incessant rise of China-based phishing kit vendors has been a significant concern, with nearly six stories dissecting their nefarious activities in 2025. These operations have enabled sophisticated cybercrime gangs to convert phished payment card data into mobile wallets from Apple and Google.
In January 2025, we highlighted the dodgy Funnull content delivery network, which specialized in helping China-based gambling and money laundering websites distribute their operations across multiple U.S.-based cloud providers. This entity was subsequently sanctioned by the U.S. government in May, recognized as a primary source of investment/romance scams.
In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted the proprietors of a Pakistan-based e-commerce company for conspiring to distribute synthetic opioids in the United States. This case underscored the intricate web of connections between global cybercrime operations and illicit activities.
The final months of the year witnessed another notable development: the examination of an academic cheating empire linked to Google Ads, which earned tens of millions of dollars in revenue and had curious ties to a Kremlin-connected oligarch whose Russian university builds drones for Russia's war against Ukraine. This case served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle to combat global cybercrime operations.
As we conclude this year-long retrospective, it is essential to acknowledge the unwavering dedication of our readers and the continued efforts of security researchers worldwide. In the ever-evolving landscape of global cybercrime operations, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and work together to uncover the secrets behind these complex entities.
In 2026, KrebsOnSecurity.com will continue to shed light on the world's most significant and disruptive botnets, including Kimwolf, as well as other emerging threats. By maintaining our unwavering commitment to investigative journalism, we aim to provide readers with actionable insights into the global cybercrime landscape.
Thank you for your continued support. As we venture into the new year, let us remain resolute in our pursuit of uncovering the truth behind the world's most complex and far-reaching cybercrime operations.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-Year-in-Review-KrebsOnSecuritycoms-16th-Anniversary-and-the-Ongoing-Battle-Against-Global-Cybercrime-ehn.shtml
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/12/happy-16th-birthday-krebsonsecurity-com/
Published: Mon Dec 29 14:32:56 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
