One of the world's biggest criminal marketplaces used by online fraudsters to buy passwords has been closed down in a global law enforcement crackdown.
Genesis Market sold login details, IP addresses and other data that made up victims' digital fingerprints.
Often costing less than $1, the personal information let fraudsters log into bank and shopping accounts.
Law enforcement agencies around the world were part of the co-ordinated raids, including the UK.
Globally, 200 searches were carried out and 120 people were arrested.
Genesis Market had 80 million sets of credentials and digital fingerprints up for sale, with the NCA calling it an enormous enabler of fraud.
The individual's data that led to the 2021 hack of gaming giant Electronic Arts (EA) sold for just $10.
Businesses also had their information sold on the website, which facilitated fraud, mobile phone number hacking and ransomware attacks.
Thousands of criminals are thought to have been using Genesis, with several hundred users in the UK.
Internet users who want to avoid fraud are advised to keep their computer and phone operating systems up-to-date, to use two-factor authentication (2FA) and strong passwords such as ones involving three random words.
They are also being urged to consider using a password manager.
Source: BBC News
