Police Dismantle Nine Crime Groups in Illegal Streaming Crackdown
Summary
Operation KRATOS 2 involved authorities from 13 countries, who dismantled nine crime groups, arrested 29 suspects and removed more than 27,000 illegal streaming URLs. Europol warned of malware, spyware and data-theft risks to users.
Key points
- Operation KRATOS 2 was a seven-month operation coordinated by Bulgaria with Europol support and authorities from 13 countries.
- Authorities dismantled nine organized crime groups and arrested 29 suspects; they also identified 86 suspects and conducted 148 searches.
- Investigators linked more than 18,000 IP addresses and 4,370 domains to the services.
- More than 27,000 illegal streaming URLs were removed; nearly 400,000 additional URLs were flagged for suspension or removal.
- Europol said the groups separated customer-facing websites from content-hosting servers to operate across jurisdictions and hinder detection and prosecution.
- Europol warned that users of illegal streaming services may face malware infections, spyware and data theft. The article does not report specific infections or data theft incidents.
Article Details
- Event Type
- International law enforcement crackdown on illegal streaming services and organized crime groups.
- Impact
- Operation KRATOS 2 dismantled nine organized crime groups and resulted in 29 arrests. Authorities removed more than 27,000 illegal streaming URLs and identified over 18,000 associated IP addresses and 4,370 piracy domains. Europol warned that illegal streaming services can expose users to malware, spyware, and data theft.
Countries
Belgiumwas coordinated by Bulgaria with Europol’s support and involved authorities from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the UnitedBulgaria#OperationKRATOS2CroatiaBulgaria with Europol’s support and involved authorities from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and theFrancewith Europol’s support and involved authorities from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the UnitedGreecesupport and involved authorities from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Irelandand involved authorities from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Italyinvolved authorities from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Polandfrom 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Romaniaincluding Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Spainincluding Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.the Netherlandsauthorities from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.the United KingdomBulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.United StatesFrance, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.