Global Law Enforcement Takes Down Major Dark Web Marketplace and Cybercrime Operation

"Operation Cookie Monster," a 17-country police sting led by the FBI and Dutch National Police, has led to the closure of the largest illicit market on the dark web, the Genesis Market. The site specialized in the sale of digital products that had been stolen with the help of malware, allowing criminals to bypass security measures such as multi-factor authentication or device fingerprinting. Authorities conducted more than 200 searches and made 120 arrests while also engaging in widespread "preventative activity." The impact of data theft is significant, with Genesis estimated to have stolen over 80 million credentials and digital fingerprints from over two million individuals.