Data Security

U.S. Authorities Seize BreachForums Website Over Data Theft

The FBI, in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, has taken over the BreachForums website and Telegram channels. Find out more about the ransomware brokerage website and the importance of the FBI’s actions.

Anuj Mudaliar Assistant Editor - Tech, SWZD

May 16, 2024

(Credits: Shutterstock.com)

The FBI, leading an international law enforcement operation, has taken control of the BreachForums website, a data leak forum.
Law enforcement agencies had also seized an earlier version of the forum in June 2023.

The FBI, leading an international law enforcement operation, has taken control of the BreachForums website, a data leak forum. The notorious platform is known for being a marketplace for the sale of stolen data. This is the second time an iteration of BreachFourms has been taken down in the last 12 months. The latest action has come days after the website hosted information stolen from Europol databases.

Following the collaboration, including law enforcement from Iceland, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, the U.S., the U.K., and Ukraine, the website was replaced with a seizure banner stating that the cybercrime forum was under the control of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice (DoJ). The effort also resulted in the seizure of the BreachForums Telegram channel.

See More: Black Basta Ransomware Operation Hits Over 500 Entities in Europe, North America, and Australia

Since March 2022, BreachForums has been active as a marketplace for cybercriminals to trade various contraband, including hacking tools, information from breached databases, access devices, and more. Following the previous shutdown in June 2023, it reemerged as a different website under the same name.

Following the takedown, law enforcement will likely have more opportunities to track threat actors with access to associated domains and servers. It is also possible that members of ShinyHunters, the website admin group, could attempt to restore service, although such an effort is expected to face higher levels of scrutiny.

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Anuj Mudaliar

Assistant Editor - Tech, SWZD

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Anuj Mudaliar is a content development professional with a keen interest in emerging technologies, particularly advances in AI. As a tech editor for Spiceworks, Anuj covers many topics, including cloud, cybersecurity, emerging tech innovation, AI, and hardware. When not at work, he spends his time outdoors - trekking, camping, and stargazing. He is also interested in cooking and experiencing cuisine from around the world.