Five young French hackers were arrested this week in France, in Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Maritime and Reunion. They are suspected of having administered Breachforums, one of the largest resale sites of hacked data, dismantled by the police.
According to The Parisianfive French hackers were arrested this week. They are suspected of having administered Breachforums, one of the world’s largest sites for the resale of hacked data.
Long associated with Russian or foreign networks, the Breachforum administrators were actually four French people in his twenties, well installed on the national territory. Hidden behind the pseudonyms “ShinyHunters”, “Hollow”, “Noct” et “Depressed”they would have discreetly directed this criminal platform.
“It is the historic crossroads between those who attack companies and those who seek to buy fresh data”explains Benoît Grunenwald, cybersecurity expert at ESET.
Patient and methodical hunt
The arrest in March 2023 of Conor Brian Fitzpatrick “Pompompurin”by the FBI had caused a temporary closure of the site. But a new French team would have quickly taken over. In February, the first French member, “Intelbroker”had been arrested. Fearing to be unmasked, the other administrators had suspended the breakforum activity in April.
The investigation by the cybercrime (BL2C) was continued. The police arrested the other four suspects this week in Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Maritime and Reunion this week. They are suspected of having orchestrated massive leaks of data concerning in particular Boulanger, SFR, France Work and the French Football Federation.
A threat very present in France
“It is not surprising to find French people in the maneuver. There is an inner threat with cyber capacities that these individuals could use at better escient”Benoît Grunenwald analysis. “They are a good technical level. You have to prove yourself to become a director and gain confidence in this world where anonymity is the rule.”
With these arrests, Breachforums should now experience a serious slowdown.
