Hackers communicating in Forums, Telegram and Discord: Why you should pay attention!

What is a hacker forum?

A hacker forum is an online platform (mostly traditional websites) where individuals with an interest in hacking and information security gather to share information, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects. These forums can be used for a variety of purposes, including discussing hacking techniques, sharing exploits and vulnerabilities, and trading stolen data or other illegal goods and services. Some hacker forums are public, while others are invitation-only or require a fee for access. Many hacker forums have a strong sense of community and operate under a set of unwritten rules and ethics, although some are used by malicious actors for illegal activities.

What you will find in traditional hacker forums

Traditional hacker forums can be a source of a wide range of data from organizations, including:

• Personal information: Hacker forums may contain personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of individuals.
• Login credentials: Hacker forums may contain login credentials, such as username and password combinations, that have been obtained through data breaches or phishing attacks.
• Financial information: Hacker forums may contain financial information, such as credit card numbers and bank account numbers, that have been obtained through data breaches or other illegal activities.
• Intellectual property: Hacker forums may contain stolen intellectual property, such as software source code or proprietary business information, that has been obtained through data breaches or other illegal activities.
• Network information: Hacker forums may contain information about network vulnerabilities, such as open ports and misconfigured servers, that can be exploited by attackers.

What role does Telegram play for hackers?

Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging app that allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and files to other users across the world. Telegram is known for its fast and secure messaging, as well as its ability to handle large groups and high volumes of traffic. Hackers share data leaks on Telegram in different ways. In some channels, hackers post data dumps with short explanations about what people can find in them. In these channels, minimal conversations occur. However, there are also dedicated hacking groups where many members actively discuss various aspects of Internet crime. There are many more ways Telegram is used by hackers:

• Communication: Telegram can be used by hackers as a secure means of communication, as it offers end-to-end encryption and the ability to create self-destructing messages. This allows hackers to communicate with one another without fear of being monitored by law enforcement or other authorities.
• Command and control: Telegram can be used to create a command and control (C&C) infrastructure for malware. This allows hackers to remotely control infected devices, exfiltrate data, and perform other malicious activities.
• Malware distribution: Telegram can be used to distribute malware, such as trojans, keyloggers, and other types of malicious software. Hackers can create Telegram groups or channels and share links to malicious files, or use the app’s file-sharing feature to distribute malware directly.
• Hacktivism and cybercrime: Telegram groups and channels can be used to coordinate and organize hacktivist campaigns and cybercrime activities. Hackers can share information, tools, and techniques, and plan and carry out attacks.

Is also Discord used by hackers to exchange data leaks?

Discord is a communication platform that allows users to text, voice and video chat with each other. It was initially designed for gaming communities but has since grown to include a wide range of users and communities. There are instances where hackers have used private channels on Discord to exchange and sell data leaks. However, it’s important to note that not all Discord channels or communities are used for illegal activities, and the vast majority of Discord users are using the platform for legitimate purposes. Unlike Telegram, Discord is not yet that popular for hacking activities.

Is it even possible to monitor chats related to cyber crime on Telegram & Co?

Telegram itsself has over 500 million active users, and many of these users are likely to have created or joined channels. Telegram allows anyone to create a channel and there’s no limitation or verification process to it, so the number of channels on the platform is quite high. Additionally, many of these channels are likely to be inactive or used for legitimate purposes, so it’s difficult to estimate the number of channels that are specifically used for hacking or other illegal activities. Therefore its very hard to keep track of channels and you will always only cover a very small fraction of all relevant channels. The situation is somewhat different for traditional hacker channels. These are far less dynamic and the activities are usually limited to a few very popular forums.In both cases, however, monitoring is possible as long as you focus on selected channels or forums. Kaduu for example offers a Telegram, Discord and Hacker Forum monitoring feature as part of our darknet– and deepweb monitoring service.