The deep and dark web is often associated with drugs and human trafficking, but there’s another hidden world—deep web hacker forums. Cybercriminals gather to share hacking tools and stolen data in these secret spaces. But is the threat they pose real, or just an overhyped story about the internet’s dark side? Let’s take a closer look at what these forums have to offer!
7 Best Deep Web Hacker Forums
To access deep and dark web hacker forums, you will need special software like the TOR browser (The Onion Router), which helps you to keep your identity anonymous. However, exploring these forums can be dangerous for beginners, exposing you to malware and scams. Here are 7 best deep web hacker forums you should know about:
1: XSS
XSS, a Russian hacker forum launched in 2013, has become a core gateway for cybercriminals. Initially, the forum name was different, but in 2018, it rebranded to XSS after one of its admins was arrested. Like other deep web hacker forums, it also engages on topics such as unauthorized access, malware, vulnerabilities, and trading stolen data. Accessible through both the surface web and TOR, XSS is a gathering hub for infamous Russian cybercrime groups such as LockBit, BlackCat, REvil, and DarkSide, known for the Colonial Pipeline attack.
Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) groups use XSS to promote their services, gather members, and discuss cyber threats. Moreover, the forum also sees advertisements from black markets selling stolen credit cards, like BidenCash and BrianClub. XSS’s lasting success is associated with its offshore status and strong operational security (OPSEC), ensuring privacy and anonymity for its users. It continues to be a mainstream platform in the Russian-speaking cybercrime landscape.
2: LeakBase
LeakBase is one of the newest and most crucial deep web hacker forums. It started operations in January 2023. This English-speaking forum quickly gained popularity after BreachForums shut down in March 2023, filling an empty gap in the cybercrime environment and gaining a notorious reputation.
LeakBase quickly attracted around 50,000 members because of its ranking system, which is similar to BreachForums’s unique credit point system. Discussions are organized into separate categories and include data leaks, stealer logs, combo lists, vulnerabilities, malware, and legal tools.
LeakBase’s active community, especially its administrative team, enhances its prominence. According to Daily Dark Web, the top three threat actors in 2023 were LeakBase members, including the creator of the Chucky forum. This forum also offers a private database section for exclusive content. The forum prohibits sharing information regarding Russia, possibly to avoid gaining the attention of Russian threat actors and to navigate diplomatic sensitivities in the cybercrime arena.
3. Exploit.in
Exploit.in is among the top Russian deep web hacker forums similar to XSS. Established in 2005, it is accessible through TOR and the standard surface web browsers. It serves as a gathering point for new access brokers, offering the sale of unauthorized access, malware distribution, security vulnerabilities, and database transactions, both for buying and free sharing.
Explot.in connects professional cybercriminals with potential collaborators for several illegal activities, including hacking, fraud, and taking part in Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) groups. The forum’s organized framework and strict membership rules give it a professional appearance, making it a prominent player in the cyber threat arena.
This exclusive status frequently reduces non-Russian speakers and inexperienced hackers within the group, as the forum is mainly aimed toward skilled individuals exchanging authentic stuff. Exploit’s reputation for professionalism and genuine interaction separates it in the world of cybercrime forums.
4: BreachForums
BreachForums became a sizzling topic after law enforcement shut down RaidForums, a famous dark web website. It was created by a hacker named Pompompurin, but the forum was closed after his arrest in March 2023. However, just a few months later, on June 12, 2023, the hacking group ShinyHunters, known for breaching companies, including Tokopedia and Microsoft’s GitHub, relaunched it.
In the initial stage, hackers feared that the new BreachForums was possibly an FBI trap, but former admin Baphomet confirmed its legitimacy with a PGP-signed message. It has taken back its place in leading deep web hacker forums, offering access to over 15 billion stolen records and a secure escrow system for transactions.
The forum’s members, including well-known hackers such as CyberNiggers and USDoD, continue to utilize global cybersecurity gaps, making BreachForums a symbol of the evolving struggle between hackers and security experts.
5: Altenen
Altenen is a leading English-speaking hacker forum accessible on the surface web. It was founded in 2008 and is mainly focused on fraudulent activities, especially credit card fraud. Like other deep web hacker forums, it also covers topics including fraud techniques, cracking, hacking, and IT discussions.
Altenen experienced a significant challenge when its founder was arrested in May 2018, resulting in the original forum’s closure. However, a new Altenen forum emerged and remains active. To keep the forum flourishing, Altenen requires new members to share their domains on social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other social media sites to activate their memberships. This strategy helps to grow engagement and ensures the forum’s current operation is in the constantly evolving landscape of cybercrime on the dark web.
6: Nulled
Among all the deep web hacker forums, Nulled is a notorious English-language cybercriminal forum. It was established in 2015 for dark web users only. It has a wide range of illicit content, including leaked data, compromised identities, credit card information, and various tools for illegal activities. It promotes itself as a community for sharing leaks and engaging in discussions.
In 2016 the forum gained notoriety due to a significant data breach that exposed personal user information. Despite the associated risks, Nulled continues to operate both public and dark web forums, attracting users with varying levels of access.
While it may not have the same reputation as other deep web hacker forums like BreachForums and XSS, Nulled’s main focus on illicit content ensures its ongoing purpose in the cybercriminal landscape. Its ability to attract various user bases contributes to staying on top in the ever-evolving world of cybercrime.
7: RAMP
It was established in July 2021, RAMP (Russian Anonymous Market Place) is a prominent dark web forum serving Russian, Chinese, and English users. Its strict membership policies require hackers to have a good reputation on well-known deep web hacker forums like XSS and Exploit.
RAMP gained popularity by taking advantage of the repercussions of the U.S. Colonial Pipeline attack, which impacted several hacker forums that began enforcing limits on ransomware-related data. RAMP emerged as a vital hub for Ransomeware-as-a-Service (RaaS) groups; it created a unique collaboration program that allows these groups to appoint new hackers and sell basic access, making it different from other forums.
Their focus on facilitating RaaS services makes them a significant player in the best deep web hacker forums list, particularly in the constantly changing arena of cybercrime. Their specialty in adapting and filling gaps in other forums enhances their relevance in the hacker community.