Authorities shut down notorious ISP Real Host

Real Host was a major source of phishing attacks

An internet service provider linked to major botnet and phishing operations has been shut down.

Latvian hosting firm Real Host had been suspected of hosting numerous phishing operations as well as the Zeus botnet. Swedish telco TeliaSonera was credited with forcing the closure.

Security site HostExploit described Real Host as a "bullet proof" facility for cyber criminals, and likened its activities to those of the infamous Russian Business Network, which is thought to be behind a vast amount of cyber crime.

According to HostExploit records, Real Host servers had been used to run botnet activities, phishing operations, web-based malware attacks and the distribution of pirated software and illegal pornography.

The company is also believed to have hosted credit card trading forums and money mule recruitment sites.

The security community has increasingly turned to law enforcement officials to shut down companies providing hosting services to known cyber crime operators. Recent examples include McColo and 3FN.