Russia arrests alleged owner of cybercrime forum LeakBase, report says

In a significant move against cybercrime, Russian law enforcement has reportedly apprehended the suspected administrator of the notorious online forum LeakBase. This development was confirmed by TASS, a state-controlled news outlet. LeakBase has been described by the U.S. Department of Justice as one of the largest platforms for cybercriminal activities, facilitating the exchange of hacking tools and stolen credentials. Just weeks ago, U.S. and Europol officials announced the takedown of LeakBase's official website and the confiscation of its extensive database, which boasted over 142,000 members and 215,000 messages. The individual arrested, whose identity remains undisclosed, is said to have resided in Taganrog, a coastal city in southern Russia. In response to inquiries, the Justice Department has not provided immediate comments on the arrest. Europol, however, clarified that they do not collaborate with Russian authorities and were not involved in the apprehension. Launched in 2021, LeakBase was infamous for housing a vast collection of compromised databases, which included millions of usernames, passwords, bank account details, and credit card information. The crackdown on this forum was a coordinated effort involving law enforcement from 14 countries, leading to search warrants, several arrests, and interviews across various nations including Australia, Belgium, and the U.S. Altogether, 13 individuals were taken into custody as part of this international operation, according to reports from The Record.