May 15, 2024 at 06:37PM
The FBI, along with global law enforcement, has seized control of BreachForums, a ransomware brokerage site. The operation, involving international partners, took down the site and its Telegram channel. This marks a significant blow to cybercriminals trading in stolen data and carrying out double extortion attacks. It is a major win despite the likelihood of new similar forums emerging.
Based on the meeting notes, the FBI, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies worldwide, has successfully taken control of the BreachForums website and Telegram channel, a notorious ransomware brokerage site. This action comes after the site was used to host stolen information from Europol’s databases. The takedown operation involved Five Eyes nations, Switzerland, Iceland, and Ukraine.
The website now displays a message indicating that it has been seized by the FBI and the DOJ, and they are reviewing the site’s backend data. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to report any cyber criminal activity on BreachForums to the authorities.
BreachForums is known for trading in stolen information and facilitating “double extortion attacks” where data is both encrypted for ransom and used to threaten victims with exposure if they refuse to pay. The site has been a persistent challenge for law enforcement, even after the arrest and sentencing of its former admin.
The takeover of BreachForums is a significant setback for cybercriminals engaged in extorting individuals using stolen data. Despite this action, it is anticipated that similar forums may emerge in the future, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by the multi-billion dollar cybercrime industry.