CyberBunker: Germany Sells Secret Cold War-Era Hacker Base

A Cold War-era bunker in Germany, once used by the notorious cybercriminal group CyberBunker to support the dark web, is now up for sale. Located in Traben-Trarbach, the facility was originally built by the German military and later became a server hub for illegal online activities. Authorities in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate are currently seeking buyers for the property.

The CyberBunker complex, covering 5,500 square meters, gained widespread attention after being featured in a Netflix documentary. Over the years, the group committed around 250,000 crimes, including drug trafficking, counterfeiting, cyberattacks, and other illegal operations. Within the hacker community, CyberBunker was a popular internet provider, hosting sites like The Pirate Bay and WikiLeaks. Interestingly, the Traben-Trarbach bunker was not the only facility used by the company.

In September 2019, about 650 German law enforcement officers conducted a large-scale raid to seize servers and documents from the bunker. CyberBunker operators were brought to trial and received sentences ranging from probation to more than five years in prison.

The CyberBunker site spans 13 hectares and includes a five-level underground bunker and two above-ground buildings, all of which require significant renovation. According to reports from golem.de, the Koblenz Tax Office is eager to sell the property as soon as possible, while the General Prosecutor’s Office has declined to transfer it to the Federal Real Estate Agency.

Currently, authorities have no specific preferences regarding future owners. The sale price has not been disclosed, as the property is considered “special real estate.” However, several potential buyers have already expressed interest. Officials hope that the new owner will contribute to the regional economy and create new jobs.

There have been various proposals for the bunker’s future use, including storing cheese and wine or converting it into a hotel. Before being taken over by cybercriminals in 2012, the bunker served as the headquarters for the Bundeswehr’s meteorological service. At the end of 2013, the leader of the CyberBunker group purchased the facility for €450,000 (about $488,000 at today’s exchange rate).