The dark web is a hidden realm of the internet, cloaked in anonymity and rife with illegal activities. It's here, beyond the reach of ordinary search engines, that various forums act as bustling marketplaces and hubs for cybercriminals. These forums are not just venues for discussions but also platforms for trading stolen data, hacking tools, and other illicit goods. Below, we explore some of the most infamous forums on the dark web, examining their histories, operations, and the significant impact they have on the world of cybercrime.
BreachForums: The Revival of a Cybercrime Giant
BreachForums rose from the ashes of RaidForums, a well-known dark web forum that was taken down by law enforcement. Founded by the hacker known as Pompompurin, BreachForums quickly became a central hub for cybercriminals, especially after the closure of its predecessor. Despite the arrest of Pompompurin in March 2023, the forum was revived under the leadership of ShinyHunters, a group notorious for major data breaches targeting companies like Microsoft’s GitHub and Tokopedia.
BreachForums is renowned for its extensive database, which holds over 15 billion records from nearly 1,000 datasets. This vast repository, along with active sections dedicated to leaks, stealer logs, and hacking tools, makes it a go-to destination for threat actors. The forum also features a sophisticated ranking system (VIP, MVP, GOD) and an in-forum currency system, enabling secure transactions through an escrow service. The presence of high-profile cybercriminals like CyberNiggers and USDoD further cements BreachForums’ reputation as a powerhouse in the cybercrime landscape.
XSS: A Pillar of the Russian Cybercriminal Community
XSS, one of the oldest forums in the Russian-speaking cyber underworld, was established in 2013 and has since grown into a prominent platform for cybercriminals. Originally named after the Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, the forum rebranded in 2018 following the arrest of one of its administrators. XSS serves as a key meeting place for Russian threat actors, where they discuss and trade malware, security vulnerabilities, and unauthorized access credentials.
What sets XSS apart is its role in the ransomware ecosystem. The forum is frequented by some of the most notorious ransomware groups, including LockBit, REvil, and DarkSide, the latter being responsible for the infamous Colonial Pipeline attack. These groups use XSS not only to trade their wares but also to engage in public relations, recruiting new members and promoting their activities to bolster their reputations. XSS’s longevity and influence are due in part to its strong operational security practices, which have allowed it to evade law enforcement and maintain its status as a cornerstone of the Russian cybercriminal community.
LeakBase: The New Kid on the Block
LeakBase is one of the newest dark web forums, having launched in January 2023. Despite its youth, it quickly gained traction, especially after the shutdown of BreachForums in March 2023. LeakBase’s rise was swift, amassing nearly 50,000 members within months. This English-speaking forum is organized into various categories, including data leaks, stealer logs, and malware, each attracting a significant amount of activity.
One of LeakBase’s unique features is its prohibition on sharing information related to Russia, which could be a strategic move to avoid conflict with Russian threat actors or law enforcement. The forum’s ranking system and credit point system, reminiscent of BreachForums, add a layer of structure that appeals to its growing community. LeakBase’s rapid ascent highlights the dynamic nature of the dark web, where new forums can quickly rise to fill the void left by others.
Exploit.in: A Veteran in the Cybercrime Scene
Exploit.in, founded in 2005, is a stalwart in the world of dark web forums. It has long been a favorite among Russian cybercriminals, serving as a marketplace for malware, unauthorized access credentials, and security vulnerabilities. Like XSS, Exploit.in operates both on TOR and the surface web, making it accessible to a wide range of users, from seasoned hackers to aspiring cybercriminals.
Exploit.in’s reputation for professionalism is bolstered by its strict membership policies, which ensure that only serious and credible users can participate. This exclusivity has made Exploit.in a key venue for high-level cybercriminal operations, including collaborations on ransomware attacks and other large-scale cybercrimes. The forum’s longevity and ongoing relevance are a testament to its importance in the cybercrime ecosystem.
Altenen: A Hub for Fraudsters
Altenen stands out as one of the most prominent English-speaking forums on the dark web, with a particular focus on fraudulent activities. Founded in 2008, Altenen has become a go-to resource for cybercriminals engaged in credit card fraud, hacking, and other illicit activities. The forum was temporarily disrupted in 2018 when its founder was arrested, but it quickly bounced back and remains active today.
Altenen employs a unique strategy to maintain its user base: new members must promote the forum’s domains on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube to activate their accounts. This approach not only helps the forum grow but also increases its visibility across the internet. Altenen’s focus on fraud techniques and its active community make it a critical player in the dark web’s criminal economy.
Nulled: A Community of Leakers and Hackers
Nulled, which debuted in 2015, is a notorious forum on the dark web that caters to English-speaking cybercriminals. It hosts a wide range of illicit content, including leaked data, compromised identities, and tools for hacking and fraud. Despite its illegal activities, Nulled positions itself as a community-driven platform where users can share information and engage in discussions.
In 2016, Nulled made headlines when it suffered a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of its users. This incident underscored the inherent risks of participating in such forums, but it didn’t diminish Nulled’s popularity. Today, Nulled continues to attract a diverse user base, from casual hackers to professional cybercriminals, all drawn by the forum’s extensive resources and active discussions.
RAMP: A Nexus for Ransomware Operators
The Russian Anonymous Marketplace, better known as RAMP, emerged in July 2021 and quickly made a name for itself as a hub for ransomware operators. This multilingual forum (supporting Russian, Chinese, and English) gained prominence in the aftermath of the Colonial Pipeline attack, capitalizing on the increased attention to ransomware.
RAMP’s exclusivity is one of its defining features. Membership requires a solid reputation on other dark web forums like XSS and Exploit.in, ensuring that only experienced and credible cybercriminals can join. RAMP is particularly significant for its “partners program,” which allows Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) groups to recruit new members, sell access to compromised systems, and coordinate attacks. This focus on ransomware has made RAMP a central player in the global cybercrime landscape.
Cracked: A Multilingual Forum for Hackers
Cracked is a dark web forum that operates on the surface web, catering primarily to English-speaking users. The forum is known for its discussions on vulnerabilities, credentials, and various hacking tools. What makes Cracked unique is its multilingual approach, with 12 subforums dedicated to different languages. The French subforum, in particular, is the most active, highlighting the forum’s international reach.
Cracked may not have the same prestige as some of the other forums on this list, but it plays an important role in the broader cybercrime ecosystem. By providing a platform for hackers to share information and collaborate across language barriers, Cracked contributes to the global nature of cybercrime.
CraxPro: A Focus on Financial Fraud
CraxPro, established in 2020, is an English-language forum that focuses heavily on financial fraud. Topics on the forum include the sale of passports and IDs, cookie and credential sales, combo lists, and credit card fraud. CraxPro is often compared to Altenen, particularly in its emphasis on credit card fraud, although it has been noted that the quality of information shared on CraxPro can be inconsistent.
Despite this, CraxPro has developed a loyal following, particularly among cybercriminals interested in financial fraud. The forum’s active community and the broad range of topics it covers ensure that it remains a relevant and valuable resource for those involved in the dark web’s financial underworld.
Dread: The Reddit of the Dark Web
Dread, founded in 2018 by a threat actor known as HugBunter, is often referred to as the “Reddit of the dark web” due to its similar interface. While Dread is one of the largest forums on the dark web, it is somewhat unique in that discussions on drug sales often overshadow those on hacking and cybercrime. However, recent trends have shown an increase in hacking-related topics, making Dread more relevant to the cybercrime community.
Dread’s large user base and familiar interface make it an accessible entry point for those new to the dark web, but its focus on a wide range of illegal activities ensures that it attracts a diverse array of users. As discussions on hacking continue to grow, Dread may become an even more important platform for cybercriminals.
Conclusion: The Evolving Landscape of Dark Web Forums
The dark web is a constantly changing landscape, where new forums emerge, and old ones fade away. The forums discussed here represent some of the most significant players in this shadowy world, each contributing in its own way to the global cybercrime ecosystem. From the massive databases of BreachForums to the professional networks of Exploit.in and the multilingual community of Cracked, these forums are integral to the operations of cybercriminals worldwide.
As cybersecurity efforts intensify, monitoring these forums becomes increasingly important. Understanding the unique characteristics and dynamics of each forum is essential for developing effective strategies to combat the threats they pose. In this digital age, where cybercrime is an ever-present danger, staying informed about the dark web’s most notorious forums is not just important—it’s imperative.
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