The forum was later reopened by the hacking group ShinyHunters and Baphomet. In May 2024, the FBI seized its domains and Telegram channels, reportedly arresting Baphomet.
The goal was simple: provide a stable, moderated environment where "threat actors" could leak, sell, and trade compromised data. Unlike many criminal forums that hide behind the complexities of the Tor network (the "Dark Web"), BreachForums operated largely on the clear web, making it accessible to a much wider audience, including "script kiddies," professional hackers, and curious researchers. How BreachForums Functions
Despite the operators' best efforts at anonymity, law enforcement agencies around the world have repeatedly targeted BreachForums and its key figures, resulting in several high-profile arrests, seizures, and convictions. breachforum
Use services like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email address has appeared in a BreachForums dump.
A system of "credits" and "reputation points" that separates high-level threat actors from "script kiddies." The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth The forum was later reopened by the hacking
Fitzpatrick admitted to law enforcement that he was "Pompompurin," the creator and chief administrator of BreachForums. Following his arrest, a secondary administrator known as "Baphomet" took control of the infrastructure. Baphomet attempted to migrate the site to secure servers, but soon realized that law enforcement likely had deep access to the forum’s backend systems. Fearing total compromise, Baphomet officially shut down the first iteration of BreachForums on March 21, 2023. 5. Resurrection and "BreachForums v2"
The history of BreachForums is a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between its administrators and the Department of Justice (DOJ). 1. The Pompompurin Era Unlike many criminal forums that hide behind the
However, for the average person, visiting these sites is highly discouraged. Not only are they hubs for illegal activity, but the sites themselves are often laden with malware designed to infect the computers of curious onlookers. How to Protect Yourself