Security News > 2023 > April > FBI Cracks Down on Genesis Market: 119 Arrested in Cybercrime Operation

"Account access credentials advertised for sale on Genesis Market included those connected to the financial sector, critical infrastructure, and federal, state, and local government agencies," the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.

DoJ called Genesis Market one of the "Most prolific initial access brokers in the cybercrime world."

"The combination of stolen access credentials, fingerprints, and cookies allowed purchasers to assume the identity of the victim by tricking third party websites into thinking the Genesis Market user was the actual owner of the account," the DoJ added.

Court documents reveal that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation gained access to Genesis Market's backend servers twice in December 2020 and May 2022, enabling the agency to access information pertaining to about 59,000 users of the cybercrime bazaar.

The takedown is expected to have a "Ripple effect throughout the underground economy" as threat actors search for alternatives to fill the void left by Genesis Market.

Genesis Market is the latest in a long line of illegitimate services that have been taken down by law enforcement.

News URL

https://thehackernews.com/2023/04/fbi-cracks-down-on-genesis-market-119.html