Microsoft, Google took down $66 million cybercrime marketplace that sold virtual machines with free software

Microsoft, Google took down  million cybercrime marketplace that sold virtual machines with free software

By Christian Cawley
Publication Date: 2026-09-21 18:20:00


  • So-called signal sharing between Microsoft and Google uncovered the RedVDS marketplace was behind large-scale cyber fraud
  • RedVDS sold access to virtual machines running unlicensed software from which cybercriminals launched scams and directed attacks
  • Threat data was shared securely via the Global Signal Exchange (GSE), a non-profit organization

A major cybercrime marketplace has been taken out of action thanks to cooperation between Microsoft and Google via a secure threat data sharing platform.

Known as the Global Signal Exchange, the collaboration led to the take-down of the RedVDS, an online cybercrime mall supplying virtual machines for launching phishing, business email compromise attacks, and more.