# Law Enforcement Seizes Domain of Notorious Virtualine Hosting Provider

*Published October 30, 2026*
*Source: [https://cyberscoop.com/virtualine-bulletproof-hosting-provider-seized/](https://cyberscoop.com/virtualine-bulletproof-hosting-provider-seized/)*

## Executive Summary

*This is a Premium edition. The Executive Summary is available to sec-news.ai members —*
*[read it here](https://www.sec-news.ai/news/law-enforcement-seizes-domain-of-notorious-virtualine-hosting-provider) or [see plans](https://www.sec-news.ai/pricing).*

## Article

In a significant move against cybercrime, authorities have seized the domain of Virtualine, a notorious bulletproof hosting provider. The Justice Department announced that Virtualine was instrumental in facilitating a wide range of criminal activities, including a large-scale sextortion scheme, ransomware attacks, data theft, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This Russian-speaking provider was particularly active in crypto-related crimes, making it a focal point for illegal online activities. TRM Labs, a blockchain and cryptocrime research firm, highlighted that Virtualine was not the largest in terms of total inflows but was the leading provider in illicit-attributed value this year. Nearly 20% of all illicit-attributed inflows among bulletproof hosting services were directed to Virtualine. A Russian drug marketplace was responsible for almost 44% of the direct payments to Virtualine, while a sextortion scheme accounted for nearly 17%. Cryptocurrency mixing services, ransomware operations, and cybercrime services also contributed to its revenue. Despite the domain seizure, TRM Labs noted that the underlying infrastructure might still be operational. This highlights the resilience of bulletproof hosting services, which are essential components of the illicit economy, connecting various criminal enterprises. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies obtained a court order to seize Virtualine's primary domain, known by aliases such as Secury, Massgod, and Spamhouse. Even with numerous notices from global law enforcement and child protection organizations, Virtualine continued to support customers engaged in illegal activities. The domain seizure represents a disruption in accessing the service, but it does not necessarily mean the end of Virtualine's operations.
