Global Crackdown Leads to BreachForums Arrest

A coordinated international law enforcement operation appears to have dealt a blow to the notorious cybercriminal gang BreachForums, with arrests made across France and criminal charges unsealed in the US.

According to French newspaper Le Parisien, four individuals believed to be central to the operation of BreachForums were arrested in June by France’s cybercrime police. The suspects , apprehended in Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Maritime, and the overseas territory of Réunion, allegedly operated under the hacker aliases “ShinyHunters”, “Hollow”, “Noct”, and “Depressed.”

Authorities claim the group was responsible for major cyber attacks on French organizations including Boulanger, SFR, and France Travail, among others. “ShinyHunters” has long been a name associated with high-profile international breaches, with previous claims of responsibility for attacks targeting AT&T, Ticketmaster, and Pizza Hut.

US and French authorities have also confirmed the arrest of another major figure in the BreachForums world. Kai West, a 25-year-old British national, was arrested in France in February 2025 and now has formally been indicted by the US Department of Justice.

According to the unsealed indictment, West is linked to attacks on major global companies such as Hewlett-Packard Enterprises, Cisco, and Nokia. US authorities allege he performed more than 40 cyberattacks while affiliated with another hacking group known as CyberN[——].

The IntelBroker alias has caused millions in damages to victims around the world,” said US attorney Jay Clayton in a 25 June statement.

“This action reflects the FBI’s commitment to pursuing cyber criminals around the world. New Yorkers are all too often the victims of intentional cyber schemes, and our office is committed to bringing these remote actors to justice.”

West is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, accessing a protected computer to obtain information, and wire fraud. If found guilty on all counts, West could face up to 50 years in prison. The US is seeking West’s extradition from France.

Despite the string of recent arrests, a new iteration of BreachForums was announced on 30th June, with the platform opening registration to new members the following day.