A considerable number of users operate accounts on both forums, with XSS having a lower entry barrier because it is free to create an account. The forum has been active since at least 2004 and we expect to see it grow further in 2024, two decades on from its inception. This first blog looks at developments on dark web forums and marketplaces in 2023. This year was a turbulent one for dark web marketplaces, with some of the major players falling into extinction either as a result of law enforcement action or by their own volition. But first we’ll look at cybercriminal forums, where there was a flurry of activity thanks to the disruption of BreachForums (which continues, cockroach-like, in spite of some major hiccups). Exploit largely focuses on sharing exploits and vulnerabilities of computer systems, for hacking purposes, which is where its name originates from.
Dread Forum’s Broad Discussion Spectrum
- It was launched in 2017 on the Tor network by two users known as LongPig and Power, and it built a reputation around its focus on anonymity, offensive security, and a carefully curated community.
- Its private threads often contain actionable intelligence on password leaks, enterprise breaches, and vulnerabilities yet to be publicly disclosed.
- These platforms support a variety of criminal enterprises, from data breaches to financial fraud.
- The Altenen dark web forum, which is famous for credit card fraud, also produces fake IDs and passports.
- However, around April 15, 2025, the primary BreachForums domain (.st) went offline.
- Cracked operates on the surface web, discussing combo lists, vulnerabilities, and hacking tools.
However, accessing and analyzing them should only be done by trained professionals with a clear legal and ethical framework. Dark web forums represent one of the internet’s most concealed and controversial spaces, hosting a range of activities that attract individuals ranging from threat actors to researchers and cybersecurity professionals. These forums act as hubs for illegal trade, information exchange, and malicious activities while posing severe security risks for individuals, organizations, and governments.
Originally Known As DaMaGeLaB, XSS Is One Of The Longest-running Dark Web Forums
- And some forums grew faster than others–compound monthly growth rates were 1 percent for the slowest-growing forum and 9 percent for the fastest.
- The forum has also been used to recruit new members to malicious groups although recruitments never actually took place directly on the forum.
- Initially, joining CryptBB was quite a challenge—you even had to go through interviews.
- The benefit of monitoring dark web forums is that they can also be a valuable source of intelligence for law enforcement and cybersecurity professionals.
The first step for any organization that wants a successful dark web forum monitoring is to start by establishing the goals, the areas to monitor, and the rules of engagement. As much as it might seem a challenging task to implement, the overall benefit is worth it. In fact, it helps organizations with valuable threat intelligence so that they can stay ahead of the ongoing threats. Moreover, the forums use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as the only mode of transactions. The digital currencies provide anonymity, and they’re hard to trace, which makes them the best option for illegal transactions. Also, the forum served as a promotional as well as recruitment platform, whereby malicious actors and other ransomware groups use it to expand their visibility, bolster reputations, and exchange ideas.
Threat Attack Daily – 30th Of September 2025
The forum, which was launched in early 2018, is designed similarly to the popular open web forum Reddit. With a rank system reminiscent of BreachForums and its unique credit point system, LeakBase garnered attention, attracting nearly 50,000 members in a short span. The forum highlights discussions on data leaks, stealer logs, combo lists, vulnerabilities, malware, and even legal tools, each occupying a distinct category. For those interested in digital products – like stealer logs – RussianMarket and 2Easy are the most popular alternatives to Genesis, having already proved their capabilities. Another notable departure from the scene was the ASAP market, which has been active since at least 2020. It had catered to illicit drugs and psychedelics vendors, as well as offering stealer logs and payment card information.
In response, users suggested anything from paying for low-cost advertisements to making highly ranked vendors “mention” the forum on their other platforms. Holders of any credit cards, whether you know if they have been compromised or not, are advised to monitor bank statements for any suspicious or unusual activity. Despite its utility and rapid growth, LeakBase was abruptly shut down in December 2017, reportedly due to law enforcement pressure potentially linked to the Dutch police sting on the Hansa darknet market. At the time of closure, it redirected users to HaveIBeenPwned.com, signaling the official end of the service. Despite these developments, we believe that the administrators’ hard work will not be in vain, as Dread still serves a unique purpose on the dark web that its users value greatly. As Dread continues to enhance its infrastructure, we anticipate that the forum will introduce more advanced features and functionalities in the future, thereby attracting even more users.
Beyond coordination, forums act as early warning systems by revealing new malware strains and evolving attack methods before they hit mainstream networks. The availability of stolen data fuels a wide range of threats including phishing, account takeovers, and fraud, which often start with information traded openly in these spaces. Monitoring forum chatter provides valuable insights into trending targets, attack techniques, and exploited vulnerabilities, helping defenders anticipate and prepare for imminent threats. Data leaks shared on these platforms frequently precede large-scale exploitation campaigns, making timely threat intelligence essential.
New Forums
Fortunately, on July 22, 2025, French police reported arresting a key XSS administrator after a long-running investigation, and the forum was seized. Besides, it has a huge and highly active user community that discusses credential lists, hacking tools, email and password combos, vulnerable software, and several other things. It’s so well managed that the platform is multilingual as it features up to 12 language-specific sections, with the French sub-forum being the most active. Its popularity can be as a result to the ease of use on it, as the forum features a clean and accessible design with enhanced moderation and a wider scope of the leak topics and sources. The dark web is a small part of the much larger “deep web,” which also isn’t indexed by search engines — but authorized users can access it using common web browsers.
Brief Bio: XSS
Accessing Dread Forum involves navigating the dark web, which requires more meticulous security measures compared to accessing the regular internet. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to safely access Dread using Tor or similar privacy-focused browsers, along with important security measures and common risks to be aware of. Contact us to learn how to protect businesses and organizations with dark web monitoring.
How To Safely Access Dark Web Forums For Research
RuTor has been a prominent forum in the Russian dark web scene since 2015, with threads that span multiple pages – and years – on topics ranging from drugs, fraud, computer programming and current affairs. French and European authorities are stepping up cooperation on arrests linked to cybercrime, while reports of cyberattacks targeting public entities and private groups are mounting. “A judicial investigation was opened on November 9, 2021 on charges of complicity in attacks on an automated data processing system, organised extortion, and criminal conspiracy,” Beccuau said. The dark web has grown in popularity over the years as people become increasingly technologically savvy. Using a darknet browser like Tor or I2P allows users to stay anonymous whilst browsing online.
Formalization And Professionalization On The Deep And Dark Web
This anonymity encourages open communication and the sharing of sensitive information without fear of exposure. Its stance against sharing data about Russia indicates a nuanced approach to geopolitical sensitivities. LeakBase’s vibrant community and administrative team fuel its prominence in the cybercrime landscape.
Just three weeks after RaidForums was seized, Pompompurin, a threat actor who had been very active on RaidForums, decided to officially replace the hacking forum with an alternative forum on the dark web, called BreachForums. Those who are familiar with Raidforums will notice that BreachForums has a very similar design and structure. Dark-web forums have been instrumental in several high-profile cyberattacks, vividly illustrating their critical role within the global cybercrime landscape. One prominent example is the notorious ransomware attack carried out by the REvil (Sodinokibi) group in 2021, which disrupted operations at hundreds of companies worldwide. Forums and Markets, available on both the dark web and clear net, are an excellent resource of learning, as well as open source intelligence.
Top Zero Trust Vendors And How They Strengthen Modern Cybersecurity
Despite suffering from past data breaches, Nulled.to has maintained strong community trust, largely due to its robust vendor rating system and dispute resolution features that help ensure smoother transactions. It attracts a wide range of users, from newcomers seeking tutorials and hacking tools to experienced hackers trading advanced exploits and fraud services. Sections dedicated to social engineering and scams further support various fraud schemes, enhancing its reputation as a comprehensive platform for illicit activities. This combination of high user engagement, marketplace reliability, and a broad catalog of hacking resources sets Nulled.to apart as a central player in the dark web’s data leak sales landscape. The dark web, a small but complex part of the deep web, is accessible only through special browsers like Tor, which focus heavily on preserving user anonymity and secrecy. Though it makes up about 0.01% of the internet, it hosts a wide range of sites including forums, marketplaces, and illegal services.
Attack-For-Hire Services: The Evolution Of DDoS
Instead, they are equipped with the tools necessary for proactive protection and resilience against these hidden dangers. Leveraging advanced search algorithms and customizable news feeds, SOCRadar delivers targeted insights into specific threats. Our exploration takes us through the digital alleyways of the internet’s underbelly, where forums like BreachForums and XSS offer a glimpse into the sophisticated world of cyber threats and data breaches.
