International Hacker Network KillSec Dismantled; 18-Year-Old in Athens Identified as Developer
Coordinated operation across nine countries leads to three arrests and seizure of over 110 terabytes of stolen data.
KEY POINTS
- Operation "KillSwitch" dismantled KillSec ransomware group linked to ~1,000 attacks
- Three arrests made across Spain, Romania, Greece, and UK on Sept 30, 2026
- 18-year-old developer suspect searched in Athens; devices and 110+ TB data seized
- Group extorted victims via cryptocurrency ransoms and data leak threats
- Nine nations coordinated via Eurojust Joint Investigation Team and Europol
An international law enforcement operation codenamed "KillSwitch" has dismantled the cybercrime group KillSec, which is linked to nearly 1,000 ransomware attacks worldwide. Authorities from nine countries, including Greece, the United States, Germany, and Spain, participated under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.
Three suspects were arrested on September 30, 2026, in Greece, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Among them, a 16-year-old considered the group's leader was detained in Spain, while two other members were apprehended in Spain and Romania.
Greek cybercrime prosecutors searched the Athens residence of an 18-year-old foreign national identified as the network's developer. Police seized a desktop computer, four mobile phones, two external hard drives, two USB sticks, and handwritten notes related to the stolen data.
Investigators secured the group's leak site and five central servers, safeguarding at least 110 terabytes of stolen data from further exposure. The gang targeted public and private entities, stealing sensitive information and demanding cryptocurrency ransoms under threat of publication.
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