During this time, the FBI used a malware-based "Network Investigative Technique" (NIT) to hack into the web browsers of users accessing the site in what is known as a watering hole attack, thereby revealing their identities.
Only a mishap of the site owner that revealed his IP address finally allowed law enforcement to track down both the servers and personnel.
[6] The lawyer of a defendant in the case stated that the FBI not only operated the website, but improved it so its number of visitors rose sharply while it was under their control.
[7] Challenges were raised about the FBI's possible misuse of the initial search warrant, leading to the likely dismissal of much of the gathered evidence against one defendant.
[11] On August 28, 2019, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the warrant was invalid but that the evidence obtained was not required to be excluded due to the good-faith exception doctrine.