The Persistent Shadow of BreachForums: A Tale of Cybercrime Resilience

BreachForums, initially administered by the hacker known as Pompompurin, became a notorious hub for cybercriminals. However, the forum faced a significant setback when Pompompurin was apprehended by the FBI and subsequently sentenced by the court.

Despite the shutdown of the original BreachForums, which operated under domains such as Breaked.vc/.to/.co, the torch was passed to new hackers. These individuals continued the forum's legacy under new guises, including Breakforums.st/.cs/.is/.vc, with ShinyHunters taking the helm.

The forum gained infamy for the sale of high-profile vulnerabilities, including a Windows LPE flaw offered at $150,000, a VMware ESXi vulnerability priced at $1.2 million, and an Outlook RCE bug going for $1.7 million. ShinyHunters, the forum's operator, even guaranteed these posts, aiming to validate the vulnerabilities' legitimacy and attract buyers from the hacking community.

In a significant law enforcement operation, the FBI, in collaboration with international agencies, once again shut down the BreachForums platform. Authorities are now urging victims to come forward with information to aid in tracking down the hackers and operators associated with BreachForums.

From its inception in June 2023 to its closure in May of the following year, the new iteration of BreachForums has been a focal point for illegal cyber activities. It is anticipated that hackers will attempt to revive the BreachForums brand by launching new forums under its name, continuing the cycle of online criminal enterprise.