Dodgy Android markets shut down by FBI in copyright crackdown

Three websites, involved in the distribution of cracked and stolen Android smartphone apps, have been shut down by the FBI.

The FBI, working with Dutch and French law enforcement officers, seized control of three website domain names – applanet.net, appbucket.net and snappzmarket.com – and presented visitors to the sites with a message reminding them of how copyright lawbreakers could be severely punished:

This domain name has been seized by the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by a United States District Court under the authority of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 981 and 2323.

Wilful copyright infringement is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution (Title 17, United States Code, Section 506, Title 18, United States Code, Section 2319).

FBI agents apparently downloading thousands…

Read more in my article on the Naked Security website.

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Graham Cluley •   @gcluley

Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, having worked for a number of security companies since the early 1990s when he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows. Now an independent analyst, he regularly makes media appearances and is an international public speaker on the topic of cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky, or drop him an email.