As the digital landscape becomes increasingly fraught with cyber threats, few have a clearer view of the battlefield than Malik Haidar, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with years of experience safeguarding multinational corporations from hackers and malware. With a deep understanding of analytics, intelligence, and security, Malik has a unique perspective on integrating business strategies with robust cyber defenses. In this interview, we dive into the intricacies of Operation Endgame, a global effort to dismantle major malware networks, exploring the impact of targeted threats like Rhadamanthys Stealer and Venom RAT, the scale of recent takedowns, and the ongoing challenges in combating cybercrime.
Can you give us a broad picture of what Operation Endgame is and why it matters?
Operation Endgame is a massive, coordinated effort by international law enforcement, led by Europol and Eurojust, to disrupt the criminal infrastructure behind ransomware and other cyber threats. It’s been ongoing for some time, with the goal of dismantling the tools and networks that enable these attacks on a global scale. What makes it significant is its focus on breaking down the foundational elements of cybercrime—like malware loaders and infostealers—that are often the starting point for larger attacks. The latest phase, which took place between November 10 and 13, 2025, is just one chapter in this broader mission, showing how persistent and collaborative these efforts need to be to keep pace with evolving threats.
What can you tell us about the specific malware families targeted in this recent phase of the operation?
The operation zeroed in on three major players: Rhadamanthys Stealer, Venom RAT, and the Elysium botnet. Rhadamanthys is an infostealer designed to harvest sensitive data like passwords and financial details from infected systems, often paving the way for further malware or ransomware attacks. Venom RAT, or Remote Access Trojan, gives attackers full control over a victim’s machine, allowing them to steal data or use it as part of a larger attack network. The Elysium botnet, meanwhile, is a network of compromised devices typically used for malicious activities like proxy services or launching attacks. These threats have caused widespread damage, from financial losses to privacy breaches, often without victims even realizing their systems are compromised.
How widespread was the infection caused by these malware families?
According to Europol, the infrastructure behind these malware families affected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide, with several million stolen credentials in play. A deeper analysis by a non-profit supporting the operation identified over 525,000 unique infections by Rhadamanthys alone between March and November 2025, spanning 226 countries and territories. That translates to over 86 million data-stealing incidents. It’s a staggering scale, and most victims likely had no clue their devices were part of this mess until authorities or security tools flagged it.
Can you break down the impact of the takedown in terms of the infrastructure that was disrupted?
The scale of this takedown was pretty impressive. Law enforcement managed to shut down over 1,025 servers that were critical to the operation of these malware networks. They also seized 20 domains, which are essentially the digital addresses these criminals used to manage their infrastructure. Taking these offline disrupts their ability to communicate with infected systems and coordinate attacks. It’s like cutting the wires to a criminal headquarters—it doesn’t stop every criminal, but it severely hampers their operations.
What’s the significance of the millions of stolen credentials mentioned by Europol?
When Europol talks about several million stolen credentials, they’re referring to things like usernames, passwords, and other personal data harvested from infected systems. This kind of information is gold for cybercriminals—it can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or sold on the dark web to other bad actors. For victims, it means their private lives and finances are at risk, often without them knowing until it’s too late. The sheer volume here shows how pervasive these threats are and why disrupting them can prevent countless downstream crimes.
Let’s talk about the arrests made during this operation. What can you tell us about the key suspects?
One of the headline arrests was the main suspect behind Venom RAT, who was apprehended in Greece on November 3, just before this latest phase of Operation Endgame. This individual was allegedly a central figure in developing or distributing this malware. Another key suspect tied to Rhadamanthys had access to around 100,000 cryptocurrency wallets belonging to victims. That kind of access points to potential losses or theft in the millions of euros, though exact figures are still unclear. These arrests are crucial because they target the human element behind the tech, disrupting not just the tools but the masterminds driving these schemes.
There seems to be some uncertainty around the Elysium botnet. Can you shed light on what it might be?
There’s a bit of ambiguity about the Elysium botnet mentioned by Europol. It’s unclear whether this refers to a known proxy botnet service that’s been linked to certain threat actors advertising as recently as last month, or if it’s a distinct entity. If it’s a separate botnet, details are still emerging, but generally, botnets like Elysium are networks of infected devices used for a range of illicit activities, from hiding attacker identities to launching large-scale attacks. The confusion highlights how complex and layered these criminal ecosystems can be, often overlapping with multiple groups and tools.
What do you see as the broader implications of operations like Endgame for the future of cybercrime?
Operations like Endgame send a powerful message to cybercriminals that international collaboration can hit them hard, even at the root of their operations. By targeting initial access tools and infrastructure, it disrupts the entire ransomware economy, not just individual attacks. However, it’s not a silver bullet. Cybercriminals are adaptable—they’ll pivot to new tools and methods. The window created by these takedowns is a chance for organizations and individuals to strengthen their defenses, patch vulnerabilities, and stay vigilant. It also underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in this fight, as law enforcement alone can’t keep up with the pace of innovation on the dark side of the internet.
What’s your forecast for the evolution of malware and botnet threats in the coming years?
I think we’re going to see malware and botnets become even more sophisticated, with a heavier focus on stealth and persistence. Threat actors are already incorporating techniques to evade detection, like the latest versions of Rhadamanthys that collect device fingerprints to blend in. We’ll likely see more modular malware—tools that can adapt or add features after infection based on the attacker’s goals. Botnets might also shift toward targeting Internet of Things devices, which are often less secure and provide a massive attack surface. On the flip side, operations like Endgame will push for faster, more proactive responses, but it’s going to be a constant cat-and-mouse game. Defenders need to prioritize visibility and rapid response to stay ahead.
