German ISP Aurologic GmbH: Central Hub for Hosting Malicious Cyber Networks

[johny899]

Have you ever thought about how cybercriminals are able to operate their networks so smoothly, almost anywhere in the world? Well, in some cases, Internet Service Providers (ISP's) are helping to keep them online - just like Aurologic GmbH, a German ISP that has recently been identified as one of those ISPs.

Who is Aurologic GmbH?​

Aurologic GmbH was established in 2023 with the acquisition of the network belonging to "Combahton GmbH." The company is based at Tornado Datacenter in Langen, Germany and offers services in:

• Dedicated server hosting
• High-speed IP transit
• DDoS protection

This may sound like a regular ISP to you. But when you start looking into their client list, the fun really begins - each is a known company, such as role: Global-Data System IT, Railnet LLC, and Aeza Group (the latter recently sanctioned worldwide); they utilize the services of Aurologic. Many host malware and ransomware servers and other sorts of cybercrime activity on Aurologic's servers.

The Importance of This Matter​

You may be wondering why this is significant for the general internet user. Upstream facilitators such as Aurologic have a substantial role in bridging multiple networks. Research conducted by Push Security shows that their infrastructure continuously connects multiple networks associated with criminal activity.

Despite having sanctions by the United States on clients like Aeza Group, roughly half of the IP addresses were still routed through Aurologic, keeping the malefactor's operation alive.

Which brings Aurologic to a focal point for bad actors, whether those are intentional or not. It also serves as a reminder that parts of the internet can be neutral, and provide fast, reliable service while still providing assistance to criminal actors.

The Infrastructure that Makes it Attractive​

Aurologic is not a small organization. They have data centers in Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands along with direct connections to some of the largest European internet exchanges. Their strong multi-terabit network causes their reliability, and also makes them appealing to clients that are interested in malicious activity.

Final Notes​

Should we be concerned? Yes, to a point. It is an opportunity to think about the misuse of internet infrastructure. Aurologic is an example of an ISP that shows us, while we may need some of the the infrastructure to help the internet function, bad actors can also take advantage of it.

Next time you think of ISPs, remember: while your average ISP is harmless, just like Aurologic, some ISPs fit unwittingly behind a complicated web of the internet when it comes to cybercrime. Staying well-informed about the threats is important to combating such threats.