MalwareTeks Blog

The online security forum CastleCops has ceased operations after more than 5 years of support to malware victims through out the world. Going to the site today, http://www.castlecops.com/, I was meet with this page:

Greetings Folks,

You have arrived at the CastleCops website, which is currently offline. It has been our pleasure to investigate online crime and volunteer with our virtual family to assist with your computer needs and make the Internet a safer place. Unfortunately, all things come to an end. Keep up the good fight folks, for the spirit of this community lies within each of us. We are empowered to improve the safety and security of the Internet in our own way. Let us feel blessed for the impact we made and the relationships created.

With respect to the server marathon, by March 17 2009 CastleCops will refund contributions made through PayPal that were specifically designated for servers. Unfortunately, server donations made via check cannot be returned because we do not have the addresses for the donating entity. Unless instructed otherwise, CastleCops will re-allocate these funds as a donation to the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC.org). This organization sponsored our hosting environment for approximately the past 2 years. Please contact us [cc at laudanski dot com] before March 17, 2009, if you would like a return of your server marathon donation. Otherwise, we would like to thank the ISC for their unfettered support.

We thank everyone in creating our unique footprint and memories in time.

Love, Best Wishes and Happy Holidays, CastleCops
PST 23 Dec 2008

CastleCops was home to many unique communities that aided in the fight against the spread of malware software and sites. Communities such as the Malware Incident Response Team, Phishing Incident Response Team, and the Malware Digest. CastleCops was at the forefront of the battle for quite some time, and many of the malware removal experts could be found hanging out at CastleCops at any givien time of the day or night. CastleCops has been a victim of numerous DDoS attacks over the past 2 years; and with Paul and Robin Laudanski having transfered ownership of CastleCops, after Paul took a job with MicroSoft, in steady decline.

CastleCops will be missed.