Tech giant Microsoft just delivered a major smackdown to the pesky Lumma Stealer malware, launching legal action and shutting down nearly 2,300 websites linked to this info-snatching menace.
In a May 21 blog post, Microsoft revealed a federal court in Georgia gave its digital crimes unit the green light to dismantle Lumma’s operations. Teaming up with law enforcement worldwide, including Europol’s Cybercrime Center and Japan’s Cybercrime Control Center, Microsoft helped seize Lumma’s central command and wreck the shady marketplaces where this malware was sold to cyber crooks.
Lumma, active since 2022, has been upgraded multiple times and lets hackers swipe everything from passwords and credit card info to bank details and crypto wallets. Between March 16 and May 16, Microsoft identified over 394,000 Windows PCs infected by Lumma and helped cut off communications between the malware and its victims.
Crypto Drainers and Growing Cyber Menace
Lumma is part of a nasty crew called crypto drainers, software designed to empty crypto wallets via phishing sites, fake airdrops, malicious extensions, and more. Just this week, Chinese printer maker Procolored reportedly bundled Bitcoin-stealing malware with its official drivers, causing losses of nearly $953,000 in crypto.
According to a recent AMLBot report, crypto drainers are now offered as SaaS (Software as a Service), making it easy for even amateur hackers to rent malware starting at just $100.
Chainalysis reported in February that crypto theft and fraud hit almost $51 billion in 2024, with professional crime networks, fraud cartels, nation-state hackers, and AI scams running the show. The FBI’s cyber division noted that Americans lost roughly $9.3 billion this year to crypto scams, especially hitting those over 60.
Oh, and don’t forget the North Korean hackers, who have swiped nearly $3 billion in crypto since 2017, becoming craftier every year.
Microsoft’s takedown of Lumma is a big win, but the battle against crypto criminals is far from over.
HODL Team
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