The administrator of XSS, a prominent Russian-language darknet forum, has been apprehended in Ukraine. According to a statement from the Paris Prosecutor`s Office on social media platform X, the arrest was a joint effort by Ukrainian and French law enforcement agencies, supported by Europol.
“On Tuesday, July 22, an individual suspected of administering the Russian-language cybercrime forum XSS was arrested as part of an investigation initiated by the Paris Prosecutor`s Office,” the agency`s message stated.
The investigation into this case commenced in July 2021 following the interception of communications between cybercriminals. Specific details remain limited; it is currently unclear whether the detained individual is the main administrator or one of their associates. Nevertheless, an analysis of XSS user activity indicates that the forum`s administrator has not been online since the night of July 22.
Previously, the owner of a Russian service for gathering and distributing private information reported having to relocate abroad due to stricter legislation. He mentioned the enactment of a law establishing criminal liability for the unauthorized acquisition, storage, and dissemination of personal data.
XSS is one of the oldest and most well-known platforms in the Russian-speaking segment of the darknet, operational since the early 2000s. Forum participants exchange information on developing vulnerabilities, methods for hacking networks and applications, and discuss various types of cyberattacks. Beyond its use by cybercriminals, the resource is also valued by so-called `white hat hackers` who utilize this knowledge to protect corporate systems from malicious actors.
Clement Ashworth 
Barnaby Whitfield