The US Justice Department announced on Friday that it had charged the founder of BreachForums, a major underground website for computer hackers, with hacking conspiracy. Conor Brian Fitzpatrick, 20, of Peekskill, New York, was arrested on March 15th, and the website was shut down just days later. BreachForums, which claimed to have more than 340,000 members, was a virtual marketplace for hacking tools, stolen data, and services for hire.
BreachForums filled the role of another similar marketplace, RaidForums, which had been seized by US authorities in April 2022. In January, a BreachForums user posted the names and contact information for around 200 million members of a US social network. Weeks earlier, another user released the details of nearly 88,000 members of InfraGuard, a partnership between private companies and the FBI. According to court filings, Fitzpatrick admitted to the FBI that he owned and administered BreachForums, and earned up to $1,000 a day.
The Justice Department said that Fitzpatrick was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which can bring up to five years in prison. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement that the charges were part of the Department’s efforts to “dismantle key players in the cybercrime ecosystem”.
The case of BreachForums highlights the ongoing challenge of cybercrime, and the importance of holding those responsible accountable. It also underscores the need for both individuals and organizations to take appropriate measures to protect their data.
Key Points:
• The US Justice Department charged the founder of BreachForums with hacking conspiracy.
• BreachForums was a virtual marketplace for hacking tools, stolen data, and services for hire.
• Fitzpatrick admitted to the FBI that he owned and administered BreachForums.
• He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
• The case highlights the ongoing challenge of cybercrime and the need for individuals and organizations to take appropriate measures to protect their data.