The FBI has seized the notorious hacking forum BreachForums, which leaked and sold stolen corporate data to other cybercriminals .
See also: Post Millennial hack leaked 26 million data points
The seizure occurred on Wednesday morning, shortly after the site was used last week to leak datastolen from a Europol. The site now displays a message stating that the FBI has taken control of it and the supporting data, indicating that law enforcement has seized both the servers and domains.
"This website was taken down by the FBI and DOJ with the help of international partners," the seizure message reads.
The seizure message also shows the two profile photos of the site's administrators, Baphomet and ShinyHunters, behind prison bars.
If the FBI and law enforcement gained access to BreachForums support data, as they claim, they have in their possession email addresses, IP addresses, and private messages, which could expose members and be used in law enforcement investigations.
See also: Dell data breach: Millions of customers affected
The FBI also seized the Telegram and other channels belonging to Baphomet, with law enforcement sending messages stating that they were under their control.
Some of the messages posted on Telegram channels seized by law enforcement came directly from Baphomet's account, possibly indicating that the malicious actor was arrested and devices are now in the hands of law enforcement.
In a Telegram message shared with BleepingComputer, the hacker known as IntelBroker also claims that Baphomet has been captured. The FBI is asking victims and individuals with information about BreachForums and its members to contact them to help with their investigation.
The seizure messages include ways to contact the FBI about the seizure, including an email, a Telegram account, a TOX account, and a special page hosted on the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
This IC3 subdomain hosts a form that victims and others can use to share information about BreachForums and its members.
See also: Data breach at the Central Bank of Argentina
What activities take place on hacking forums?
On hacking forums, such as the BreachForums seized by the FBI, users often exchange information and techniques about breaking into security systems. This information may include instructions for exploiting vulnerabilities in software or hardware. Another common activity is the selling and buying of stolen data, such as credit card numbers, personal information, and login credentials. Users of hacking forums often share and develop malware, such as viruses, trojans , and ransomware. In addition to exchanging technical information, users also discuss the latest developments in cybersecurity, such as new vulnerabilities and attacks.
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Source: bleepingcomputer
