An administrator of the prominent Russian-language darknet forum XSS has been apprehended in Ukraine. This arrest was the result of a joint operation involving Ukrainian and French law enforcement agencies, in collaboration with Europol. The Paris Prosecutor`s Office officially announced the development via its account on X (formerly Twitter).
The arrest took place on July 22 and stems from an ongoing investigation that the Parisian prosecutor`s office initiated in July 2021. The probe commenced following the successful interception of communications between suspected cybercriminals, providing crucial leads for the operation.
While specific details regarding the identity of the arrested individual remain unconfirmed, including whether they were the primary administrator or an assistant, a notable observation supports the timing of the arrest. The administrator`s account on the XSS forum reportedly ceased all activity on the night of July 22, aligning directly with the reported apprehension.
XSS stands as one of the oldest and most significant Russian-language darknet forums, having been established in the early 2000s. It functions as a comprehensive platform where participants engage in discussions and exchange information on a wide range of cybersecurity topics. This includes vulnerabilities in systems and applications, methods of network exploitation, and various cyberattack strategies. The forum`s diverse user base encompasses both malicious cybercriminals and “white hat” hackers who utilize the shared knowledge to enhance the defense of corporate systems against illicit activities.
