Law Enforcement Cracks Down on VPN Service Linked to Ransomware Gangs

TL;DR

• Europol-backed investigators have taken down First VPN, a service allegedly used by ransomware gangs and other cybercriminals to hide their activity online.
• Authorities say they seized servers, domains, and the service’s user database, giving them leads on thousands of users tied to cybercrime.
• The operation could have broad ripple effects, undermining a popular anonymity tool used in ransomware, fraud, and other illicit campaigns.

Europol Cracks Down on a Cybercrime-Focused VPN

European law enforcement has dismantled First VPN, a virtual private network service that investigators say was heavily used by ransomware groups and other cybercriminals to conceal their identities and infrastructure. The coordinated action, led by authorities in France and the Netherlands with support from Europol and Eurojust, marks one of the most significant recent blows against the anonymity tools that help fuel the cybercrime economy.

The takedown, carried out between May 19 and May 20, targeted the service’s servers, domains, and backend systems. Investigators also arrested the alleged administrator, searched a residence in Ukraine, and seized infrastructure tied to the operation.

A VPN Marketed to the Underground

According to Europol, First VPN was promoted on Russian-speaking cybercrime forums as a reliable way to stay anonymous while carrying out illegal activity. That made it attractive to ransomware operators, fraud crews, data thieves, and other threat actors who depended on the service to hide malicious traffic and mask their locations.

Unlike consumer VPNs marketed for privacy or streaming, this service appears to have been positioned squarely for underground use. Europol said it was used in numerous cyber investigations over the years, suggesting it had become a common component of criminal operations rather than a niche tool.

How Investigators Got Inside

The investigation reportedly began in December 2021, giving authorities years to gather intelligence before shutting the service down. During that period, investigators working with Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre were able to gain access to the VPN’s internal systems and obtain its user database.

That access appears to be the most consequential part of the case. Authorities say they identified VPN connections linked to cybercriminal activity and traced thousands of users associated with ransomware attacks, fraud schemes, and other offenses. In practical terms, that could turn a single takedown into a much larger wave of follow-on investigations.

Infrastructure Seized, Domains Disrupted

The operation also took down the service’s visible online presence. Domains including 1vpns.com, 1vpns.net, and 1vpns.org were seized, along with associated onion addresses used for anonymous access. In total, 33 servers were dismantled.

For users who tried to access the service after the takedown, the seized infrastructure reportedly displayed notices warning that investigators had identified them. That kind of messaging is intended to do more than disrupt operations; it also serves as a psychological blow to the cybercriminal communities that rely on these services.

Thousands of Users Now Under Scrutiny

Europol said the operation exposed thousands of users connected to the cybercrime ecosystem and generated investigative leads for law enforcement agencies worldwide. Reports indicate that intelligence has already been shared across borders, with dozens of packages distributed to partner agencies and additional cases supported as a result.

That matters because anonymity services are only as useful as the trust criminals place in them. If a VPN can be infiltrated, monitored, and later seized, it stops being a safe layer of protection and becomes a liability that can help investigators map networks, identify suspects, and connect activity to real-world people.

Why This Takedown Matters

This case highlights an important shift in cybercrime enforcement: authorities are increasingly focusing not just on ransomware crews themselves, but on the services that support them. Hosting providers, bulletproof infrastructure, payment systems, and anonymity tools all play a role in keeping cybercrime scalable.

By going after First VPN, investigators hit a core enabler of that ecosystem. The service wasn’t merely a passive network utility; authorities say it was a trusted anonymity layer for threat actors who needed to move stolen data, coordinate attacks, and evade detection.

For ransomware gangs, that creates a serious operational risk. If the infrastructure they rely on is compromised, their past activity may be exposed, their current campaigns may be disrupted, and their future operations may be easier to detect.

The Bigger Picture

The takedown also reflects the increasingly international nature of cybercrime enforcement. The operation involved agencies from multiple countries, including France, the Netherlands, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Romania, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, and the United States, among others.

That level of coordination is often necessary because cybercrime infrastructure rarely stays in one place. Servers, administrators, domains, and users can be spread across different jurisdictions, making cross-border collaboration essential for any meaningful disruption.

For defenders and researchers, the case is a reminder that “no-logs” claims and anonymity promises are not always what they seem, especially when a service is built to serve criminals rather than ordinary privacy-conscious users. For cybercriminals, it is another warning that the tools they use to hide in plain sight may eventually be turned against them.

AndroGuider Team

Articles written by the AndroGuider team. We try to make them thorough and informational while being easy to read.