European law enforcement forces pull the plug on this free VPN in massive cybercrime crackdown —here's all we know

This photograph shows a laptop screen displaying the website of Europol featuring the First VPN service website with a message reading, "This service has been seized".

• Authorities from seven countries took down 'First VPN,' seizing 33 servers
• The VPN was heavily marketed as a safe haven for ransomware operators
• The takedown led to thousands of cybercriminals being exposed

A coalition of European law enforcement agencies has successfully taken down a massive virtual private network (VPN) that allegedly functioned as a digital shield for ransomware gangs and cybercriminals. The joint operation, coordinated by Europol and Eurojust, saw the dismantling of the criminal service known as 'First VPN.'