FBI Shuts Down Salesforce Extortion Portal BreachForums in Major Cyber Operation

FBI Seizes Hacking Forum ‘BreachForums‘ Amid Salesforce Data Breach Investigation

Washington D.C. – The Federal bureau of Investigation has seized control of BreachForums, a significant online platform utilized by cybercriminals, in connection with the widespread data breaches affecting salesforce customers. The operation, conducted in collaboration with authorities in France, effectively dismantled a key hub for the exchange of stolen data and illicit activities.

Takedown of a Cybercrime Hotspot

BreachForums, previously relaunched this summer following earlier disruptions, was swiftly repurposed as a data leak site by a group identifying themselves as Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters.This collective reportedly comprises individuals with ties to the Shiny Hunters, Scattered Spider, and Lapsus$ hacking groups. They aimed to extort organizations impacted by the extensive theft of data from Salesforce, a leading cloud-based software company.

On Tuesday, both the conventional and Tor-accessible versions of the data leak site went offline. While the Tor site was quickly reactivated, the primary domain – breachforums.hn – became unreachable, with its domain name servers rerouted through Cloudflare servers previously employed for domains seized by the U.S. government. The FBI finalized the seizure Wednesday, displaying a banner confirming federal control and changing the domainS name servers to ns1.fbi.seized.gov and ns2.fbi.seized.gov.

ShinyHunters‘ Response and Data Concerns

According to a message released by ShinyHunters and verified through their PGP key, law enforcement agencies obtained access to archived databases from previous iterations of BreachForums. The group has acknowledged the inevitability of the seizure,stating,”the era of forums is over.” They claim that all database backups dating back to 2023, including escrow databases, have been compromised.

Despite the takedown, Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters threatened to release the stolen Salesforce data tonight at 11:59 PM EST, targeting companies that refuse to meet their ransom demands. A list of affected organizations, including prominent names like FedEx, Disney, Home Depot, Google, toyota, and McDonald’s, has been published on the dark web site. The hackers assert they have obtained over one billion records containing sensitive customer data.

Did You Know? According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, data breaches increased by 78% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, highlighting the growing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks.

A History of Forum Reboots and Arrests

The recent seizure marks another chapter in the tumultuous history of BreachForums. The forum was initially revived in July 2025 following the arrests of several administrators in France. U.S. authorities concurrently announced charges against Kai West, also known as ‘IntelBroker,’ another key figure within the BreachForums ecosystem.

Prior to this, in August, BreachForums was taken offline, with ShinyHunters attributing the shutdown to a coordinated action by French and FBI authorities. The group warned then that no further reboots would occur. though, the repeated attempts to revive the forum underscore the persistent demand for such platforms within the cybercrime community.

Event	Date
Initial BreachForums Relaunch	July 2025
French Arrests of forum Administrators	July 2025
US Charges Against ‘IntelBroker’	July 2025
BreachForums offline – Initial Seizure Claimed	Mid-August 2025
FBI Seizure of BreachForums	October 10, 2025

Pro Tip: Regularly monitor your online accounts and credit reports for any signs of unauthorized activity. Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of security.

Understanding the Evolving Cyber threat Landscape

The takedown of BreachForums represents a significant, though likely temporary, disruption to the cybercrime ecosystem. forums like these serve as marketplaces for stolen data, recruitment hubs for hackers, and platforms for coordinating attacks. While this particular forum might potentially be gone, the underlying threat persists. Cybercriminals are continually adapting their tactics, utilizing encrypted messaging apps, and exploring new platforms to evade law enforcement.

The Salesforce data breaches highlight the vulnerabilities inherent in even the most sophisticated cloud-based systems. Organizations must prioritize robust cybersecurity measures, including regular security audits, employee training, and incident response plans, to mitigate the risk of falling victim to these attacks. The increasing reliance on third-party vendors also introduces new security challenges, as demonstrated by this incident. Companies need to carefully vet their vendors and ensure they have adequate security protocols in place.

Frequently Asked Questions About BreachForums and Data Breaches

What are your thoughts on the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts against online cybercrime? share your comments below, and let us know if this incident has changed your approach to online security!

How does the takedown of breachforums impact organizations potentially affected by Salesforce data breaches?

Operation Targeting Cybercrime Infrastructure

On October 10, 2025, the FBI, in a coordinated international operation, successfully dismantled BreachForums, a notorious online forum widely used for the trading of stolen data and facilitating cyber extortion. This takedown represents a important blow to the cybercrime ecosystem and highlights the increasing efforts of law enforcement to combat data breaches and ransomware attacks. The operation involved multiple international partners, demonstrating a unified front against online criminal activity.

what Was BreachForums?

BreachForums served as a central hub for cybercriminals to:

* Buy and sell stolen data: Including personally identifiable facts (PII), financial records, and intellectual property.

* Coordinate ransomware attacks: Providing a platform for attackers to connect, share tools, and negotiate ransoms.

* Extort victims: Facilitating the publication of stolen data unless a ransom was paid – a core element of the extortion portal functionality.

* Share hacking tools and techniques: Disseminating information that enabled further malicious activity.

* Recruit new members: Expanding the reach and capabilities of the cybercrime community.

The forum gained prominence after the takedown of other similar platforms, becoming the go-to destination for malicious actors.Its accessibility and relatively lax moderation policies contributed to its rapid growth and influence.

The Salesforce Connection & Extortion Portal

The operation specifically targeted a component of BreachForums used as an extortion portal linked to compromised Salesforce instances. This portal allowed attackers to publicly threaten to release sensitive data stolen from Salesforce customers if demands weren’t met.

* Salesforce breaches are increasingly common, making this aspect of the takedown particularly impactful.

* The FBI’s investigation revealed that numerous organizations were targeted through this portal, facing significant financial and reputational damage.

* The extortion tactics employed included threats to expose customer data, disrupt buisness operations, and damage brand reputation.

Key Actions Taken by the FBI

The FBI’s operation involved several key steps:

1. Seizure of Infrastructure: The FBI seized servers and domains associated with BreachForums, effectively shutting down the platform.
2. Arrests and Indictments: multiple individuals believed to be administrators and key members of BreachForums have been arrested and face criminal charges related to computer fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
3. Data Recovery: Efforts are underway to recover and analyze data seized from the forum, potentially identifying victims and gathering evidence for further investigations.
4. International Collaboration: The operation involved close collaboration with law enforcement agencies in multiple countries, including Europol and other international partners. This highlights the global nature of cybersecurity threats.
5. Disruption of Criminal Networks: The takedown aimed to disrupt the broader network of cybercriminals who relied on BreachForums for their activities.

Implications for Businesses & Individuals

The shutdown of BreachForums has several important implications:

* Reduced Availability of Stolen Data: The platform’s closure makes it more challenging for cybercriminals to monetize stolen data.

* Increased Risk of Detection: The FBI’s actions send a clear message that online criminal activity will not be tolerated and that law enforcement is actively pursuing cybercriminals.

* Heightened Cybersecurity Awareness: The incident serves as a reminder for businesses and individuals to prioritize cybersecurity and implement robust security measures.

* potential for Data Exposure: While the portal is down, data already stolen and potentially shared before the takedown remains a risk. Organizations should proactively monitor for their data appearing on other dark web forums.

Protecting Yourself from Cyber Extortion: practical Tips

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your institution from cyber extortion:

* Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts.

* Regularly Back Up Your Data: Ensure you have recent backups of your critical data, stored offline.

* Patch Software Vulnerabilities: Keep your software up to date to address known security flaws.

* Employee Training: Educate employees about phishing scams and other social engineering tactics.

* Incident Response Plan: Develop a plan for responding to a data security incident, including steps for containment, eradication, and recovery.

* Monitor Dark Web Forums: Utilize services that monitor dark web forums for mentions of your organization or stolen data.

* Strong Password Policies: Enforce