Hacked Europol Data Pitched on Dark Web

Sensitive Europol data is being sold on a dark web forum, but the European law enforcement agency is downplaying the severity of the breach.

According to Infosecurity Magazine, a leaker known as IntelBroker advertised the sale of a database on BreachForums. The database reportedly contains sensitive Europol information, including data labeled “for official use only” (FOUO) and potentially classified documents. IntelBroker claimed that the data breach occurred in May 2024, leading to the exposure of various internal documents and source codes.

The compromised data is said to come from several Europol departments, such as the European Cybercrime Center (EC3), the Europol Platform for Experts (EPE), the Law Enforcement Forum, and the SIRIUS electronic evidence platform. The sale is restricted to buyers with a proven track record on the underground forum and requires payment in Monero (XMR), a cryptocurrency known for its privacy features and difficulty in tracking transactions.

Europol has acknowledged the breach and is currently assessing the situation. However, the agency emphasizes that no operational information has been compromised. The group says that its core systems remain unaffected and that preliminary actions have been taken in response to the breach.

Cyberattacks on law enforcement agencies are not uncommon. As TechRadar notes, in late 2021, hacker Pompompurin infiltrated the FBI’s external email system to send fake cybersecurity warnings. Pompompurin, who was later arrested for running a major underground hacking forum, claimed responsibility for the FBI hack.

Source: TechRadar, Infosecurity Magazine

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May 15, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith