Administrator of Major Dark Web Cybercrime Forum Arrested In Ukraine

A suspected administrator of the Russian-language cybercrime forum XSS.is has been arrested in Ukraine with the help of French police and Europol. French prosecutors announced the arrest on Wednesday, stating that the individual was detained as part of a criminal investigation opened by the Paris public prosecutor's office. XSS.is is described by industry experts as one of the longest-running dark web forums, active since 2013. The forum was a major hub for global cybercrime and operated an encrypted Jabber messaging server, allowing anonymous exchanges between cybercriminals. A judicial investigation was opened in November 2021 on charges including complicity in attacks on automated data processing systems, organized extortion, and criminal conspiracy. The intercepted messages revealed numerous illicit activities related to cybercrime and ransomware, generating at least $7 million in profits. The arrest is a significant development in the fight against cybercrime, as XSS.is was a key platform for cybercriminals to coordinate and conduct illegal activities. The cooperation between French police, Europol, and Ukrainian authorities led to the successful apprehension of the suspected administrator. The investigation is ongoing, and further details about the suspect and their role in XSS.is have not been released. The takedown of XSS.is is expected to disrupt the global cybercrime ecosystem and hinder the activities of ransomware groups.