GoKawiilFinancial crime investigators in the Netherlands (FIOD) arrested two men and seized 800 servers linked to a web hosting company that enabled cyberattacks, interference operations, and disinformation campaigns.
FIOD arrested a 57-year-old suspect, who was the company director, and a 39-year-old who headed a separate firm that provided internet connectivity.
According to the authorities, the suspects indirectly provided economic resources to Russian and Belarusian entities sanctioned by the European Union (EU).
The investigation focuses on the activities of web hosting firm Stark Industries, founded on February 10, 2022, shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The [Dutch] web hosting company, according to the research team, provided support to actions by the Russian Federation that undermine democracy and security, including through information manipulation and disruption of public and economic systems,” FIOD says.
The EU added Stark Industries to the list of sanctioned entities last year on May 20. Following this restriction, the web hosting infrastructure was transferred to a newly created Dutch company that investigators believe acted as a front for the sanctioned entities.
In the recent action, FIOD conducted multiple raids in data centers in Dronten and Schiphol-Rijk, as well as searches in Enschede and Almere, where they seized 800 servers, laptops, phones, and administrative records.
From the FIOD raids
Source: FIOD
According to a report from the De Volkskrant publication, the name of this Dutch entity is WorkTitans B.V. and provides hosting services under the brand THE.Hosting.
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