US authorities take marketplace Rydox offline

ByMunyaradzi Mafaro

The US Department of Justice has taken down the illegal marketplace Rydox, which sold stolen personal data and tools to carry out hacks. Two Kosovars have been arrested.

The U.S. Department of Justice has taken down the Clearnet website. Authorities say Rydox offered 312,372 different “cybercrime products.” Rydox was a marketplace that sold thousands of victims’ personal information, including credit card details, usernames, and passwords. The website also sold tools to facilitate phishing and cybercrime campaigns. Among other things, Rydox sold phishing panels, spam logs, and guides on sending spam.

Authorities say the website has served more than 18,000 customers in eight years. Personal data was sold in at least 7,600 cases, generating a total of about $230,000. That makes the site relatively small compared to many similar marketplaces, many of which have been taken offline in recent months.

US authorities also say they have arrested two men. The Kosovars, aged 26 and 28, were arrested in their home country and are being extradited to the US. A third person from Kosovo was also arrested in Albania and is expected to face trial there.

Munyaradzi Mafaro is a music enthusiast and he also likes to tackle topics of business, productivity, and the possibilities for growth in the digital world.