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LeakBase Takedown: Cybercrime Hub Dismantled
5 Mar
Summary
- LeakBase, a popular underground data forum, was dismantled by Europol.
- The platform facilitated the global trade of stolen data since 2021.
- Authorities seized the domain and targeted active users, making arrests.
A significant international operation led by Europol has successfully dismantled LeakBase, a major underground data forum. Established in 2021, the platform had become a central hub in the cybercrime ecosystem, hosting over 142,000 users and facilitating the trade of compromised data from businesses and individuals worldwide. The forum operated on the open web in English, with Russia being an explicitly excluded territory.
On March 3, 2026, law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions executed approximately 100 actions, including house searches and arrests. While the exact number of arrests and charges remain undisclosed, authorities confirmed measures were taken against 37 of the forum's most active users. The following day, the forum's domain was seized and defaced, and its database was confiscated.
Europol stated that efforts are underway to deanonymize users, with initial engagements with suspects already reported. This operation underscores law enforcement's reach across the internet and serves as a clear warning to cybercriminals involved in trafficking stolen information.
