Ethical Hacking News
France and the Netherlands-led operation successfully dismantled "First VPN," a notorious virtual private network service utilized by 25 different ransomware groups, effectively curbing their malicious activities. This global takedown underscores the need for international cooperation in combatting cybercrime.
Law enforcement agencies from Europe and North America collaborated to dismantle First VPN, a notorious virtual private network (VPN) service used by 25 ransomware groups. The operation involved interviewing the administrator, conducting a house search in Ukraine, taking down 33 servers, and seizing global infrastructure used to support cybercriminal activity. First VPN provided 32 exit node servers operating in 27 different countries, with users able to pay through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The service offered various connection protocols and encryption options, including VLESS and Reality, which enabled users to disguise their internet traffic. The dismantling of First VPN disrupts the activities of 25 ransomware groups and highlights the need for international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
The world of cybersecurity has witnessed yet another significant development, as a global operation led by France and the Netherlands successfully dismantled a notorious virtual private network (VPN) service known as "First VPN." This infrastructure was utilized by 25 different ransomware groups, thereby significantly curbing their malicious activities. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of First VPN's operation, its use by various cybercriminal entities, and the far-reaching consequences that followed.
In a coordinated effort spanning several years, law enforcement agencies from across Europe and North America joined forces to tackle the menace posed by First VPN. The operation, which began in December 2021, involved an intricate series of actions aimed at dismantling the infrastructure of this illicit service. These actions included interviewing the administrator responsible for the service, conducting a house search in Ukraine, taking down 33 servers, and seizing global infrastructure used to support cybercriminal activity.
The extent of First VPN's reach was substantial, with it providing 32 exit node servers operating in 27 different countries. Three of these exit nodes were located within the United States, while others were situated in various locations across Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Panama, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. The subscription duration for First VPN's services ranged from a single day to one year, with users being able to pay through various cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin.
Furthermore, the operation revealed that First VPN offered several connection protocols, including OpenConnect, WireGuard, Outline, and VLess TCP Reality, as well as multiple encryption options such as OpenVPN ECC, L2TP/IPSec, and PPtP. The administrator of First VPN took considerable measures to ensure anonymity for users by stating in the FAQ section that they did not store any logs that could potentially link an IP address with a specific user's activity over a particular period.
First VPN's promotional content highlighted its "anonymity, stability, security" and claimed to prohibit the use of their servers for illicit activities. The service offered technical support via a self-hosted Jabber server and Telegram encrypted messaging service. Among the various protocols used by First VPN, two notable ones stood out: VLESS and Reality, which enabled users to disguise their internet traffic as HTTPS over commonly used ports.
In light of this operation, Europol underscored the need for international cooperation in combating cybercrime. This case serves as a poignant reminder that law enforcement agencies must work together to dismantle the complex networks utilized by cybercriminals worldwide. The dismantling of First VPN not only disrupts the nefarious activities of 25 ransomware groups but also paves the way for a more concerted global effort against such malicious entities.
The names of confiscated domains related to this illicit service are listed below, offering insight into the extensive reach and anonymity offered by First VPN. These domains include 1vpns.com, 1vpns.net, and 1vpns.org, along with several onion domains operating on the Tor network.
In conclusion, the dismantling of First VPN represents a significant milestone in the global fight against cybercrime. This operation highlights the importance of international cooperation and collaboration among law enforcement agencies in combating the increasingly complex networks used by cybercriminals worldwide.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Global-Takedown-of-First-VPN-Unraveling-the-Web-of-Ransomware-Groups-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2026/05/first-vpn-dismantled-in-global-takedown.html
Published: Fri May 22 14:24:14 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
