Europol Project Compass arrests in The Com case
Law Enforcement
Summary
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Europol's Project Compass arrested 30 perpetrators and identified 179 others in a cybercrime and extortion case tied to The Com. The action matters because the network has been linked to ransomware, phishing, vishing, and SIM swapping used to breach victim networks. Several victims were also identified and safeguarded.
Related Happenings
CL-CRI-1116 / BlackFile overlap with The Com
Threat Actor Meta
First: 27.04.2026 11:15
Last: 27.04.2026 11:15
Sources 1
About this happening:
Researchers linked **CL-CRI-1116** to overlapping labels including **BlackFile**, **UNC6671**, and **Cordial Spider**, suggesting the extortion cluster sits inside a broader **The...
CL-CRI-1116 / BlackFile overlap with The Com
Threat Actor MetaAbout this happening: Researchers linked **CL-CRI-1116** to overlapping labels including **BlackFile**, **UNC6671**, and **Cordial Spider**, suggesting the extortion cluster sits inside a broader **The...
Europol-led Operation Alice takedown of dark web CSAM and CaaS sites
Law Enforcement
First: 23.03.2026 11:10
Last: 23.03.2026 11:10
Sources 1
About this happening:
**Europol-backed investigators** dismantled **Operation Alice**'s dark web **CSAM** and **CaaS** infrastructure, **seizing servers** and exposing customers across multiple countri...
Europol-led Operation Alice takedown of dark web CSAM and CaaS sites
Law EnforcementAbout this happening: **Europol-backed investigators** dismantled **Operation Alice**'s dark web **CSAM** and **CaaS** infrastructure, **seizing servers** and exposing customers across multiple countri...
Operation Alice dark web takedown and arrest warrant
Law Enforcement
First: 20.03.2026 19:19
Last: 20.03.2026 19:19
Sources 1
About this happening:
German authorities and Europol **shut down** **Operation Alice**, seizing **287 servers** and disrupting a **dark web CSAM/cybercrime** network that had operated since **mid-2021*...
Operation Alice dark web takedown and arrest warrant
Law EnforcementAbout this happening: German authorities and Europol **shut down** **Operation Alice**, seizing **287 servers** and disrupting a **dark web CSAM/cybercrime** network that had operated since **mid-2021*...
NCA National Strategic Assessment launch and teen cybercrime warning
Public Sector Action
First: 20.03.2026 11:40
Last: 20.03.2026 11:40
Sources 1
About this happening:
The **UK National Crime Agency (NCA)** launched its **National Strategic Assessment** and warned that **online platforms** are helping draw teens into **cybercrime**. Director gen...
NCA National Strategic Assessment launch and teen cybercrime warning
Public Sector ActionAbout this happening: The **UK National Crime Agency (NCA)** launched its **National Strategic Assessment** and warned that **online platforms** are helping draw teens into **cybercrime**. Director gen...
Angelo Martino DOJ charge in BlackCat insider ransomware scheme
Law Enforcement
First: 12.03.2026 13:31
Last: 12.03.2026 13:31
Sources 1
About this happening:
**Ryan Goldberg** and **Kevin Martin** were sentenced to **four years in prison** for helping **BlackCat (ALPHV)** carry out ransomware attacks against **multiple U.S. organizatio...
Angelo Martino DOJ charge in BlackCat insider ransomware scheme
Law EnforcementAbout this happening: **Ryan Goldberg** and **Kevin Martin** were sentenced to **four years in prison** for helping **BlackCat (ALPHV)** carry out ransomware attacks against **multiple U.S. organizatio...
Latest development: 01.05.2026 14:30
Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin were each sentenced to four years in prison for helping BlackCat/ALPHV conduct ransomware attacks against multiple U.S. organizations. Court documents say they worked with Angelo Martino, shared ransom proceeds with BlackCat administrators, and in one case received a Bitcoin ransom worth $1.2m; prosecutors also said patient data was leaked in a healthcare-sector attack.
Timeline
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02.03.2026 22:32 1 articles · 2mo ago
Project Compass reports 30 arrests tied to The Com
Legal Policy Action UpdateEuropol said Project Compass, led by the European Counter Terrorism Centre and involving law enforcement agencies from 28 countries, has resulted in 30 arrests tied to The Com. Investigators also fully or partially identified 179 members, identified or partially identified 62 victims, and safeguarded four victims while the operation continues against The Com and its sub-groups.
Show sources
- 30 Alleged Members of 'The Com' Arrested in Project Compass — www.darkreading.com — 02.03.2026 22:32
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27.02.2026 13:00 1 articles · 2mo ago
Europol Project Compass arrests in The Com case
Initial DisclosureIn **January 2025**, Europol launched **Project Compass** as a multinational effort to target **The Com** and its cybercrime-extortion activity.
Show sources
- ‘Project Compass’ Cracks Down on ‘The Com’: 30 Members of Notorious Cybercrime Gang Arrested — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 27.02.2026 13:00