The FBI's Boston division was involved in a significant international operation that led to the dismantling of First VPN Service, a virtual private network platform that facilitated cybercrime. This operation, known as 'Operation Riptide', targeted a business that had allegedly aided at least 25 ransomware groups, including Avaddon Ransomware, in conducting cyber intrusions and reconnaissance. The FBI reported that Americans experienced losses exceeding $20 billion due to cybercrime last year, a 26% rise from previous years. The takedown was spearheaded by cybercrime units from France and the Netherlands, with support from law enforcement agencies in Ukraine, the UK, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the Boston division, emphasized the importance of such operations in disrupting cybercriminal activities, stating that they impose risks and increase operational costs for criminals. The First VPN Service, operational since 2014, was known for its advertising in criminal dark web forums and was used for various malicious activities, including denial of service attacks and scams. Following the takedown, visitors to the service's website will now see a law enforcement seizure banner.