Digital Event Horizon
US authorities have seized RAMP, a notorious online forum catering to ransomware discussions, in a significant blow to the dwindling number of online crime forums. The seizure marks another major victory in the fight against online crime, but raises concerns about potential data breaches.
The FBI has seized RAMP, a notorious online forum for ransomware discussions and trade. RAMP was one of the last remaining online havens for ransomware discussions after other forums were taken down by law enforcement. The forum's shutdown marks a significant blow to the online crime community and restricts their ability to operate and share information. The FBI is investigating user databases and sensitive site information, but it's unclear if RAMP operators or users will be tracked down by law enforcement.
RAMP, a notorious online forum that catered to ransomware discussions and trade, has been seized by the FBI in a significant blow to the dwindling number of online crime forums that have managed to operate with impunity. The seizure comes as part of the agency's efforts to combat the growing scourge of ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure and organizations worldwide.
The RAMP forum, which was founded in 2012 and rebranded in 2021, served a predominantly Russian-language audience and counted over 14,000 registered users who underwent strict vetting before being accepted or paid a $500 fee for anonymous participation. The platform provided discussion groups, cyberattack tutorials, and a marketplace for malware and services, making it one of the last remaining online havens for ransomware discussions.
According to sources, RAMP has been operating with relative impunity, following the takedown of other forums such as XSS, which saw its leader arrested by Europol last year. The vacuum left by these takedowns created a void that RAMP filled, making it one of the leading places for people pushing ransomware and other online threats to buy, sell, or trade products and services.
In a message posted on a rebranded XSS site, the purported chief administrator of RAMP announced its shutdown, citing police authorities' control of the forum as the reason. The post read: "I regret to inform you that the police authorities have taken control of the Ramp forum... This event has destroyed years of my work building the freest forum in the world..." The administrator stated that although they would no longer manage RAMP and would not create a new forum from scratch, they would continue to purchase access.
The seizure notice issued by the FBI invited users to submit tips through the FBI's IC3 portal. However, there is currently no word on arrests, detentions, or any RAMP operators or users being tracked down by law enforcement. It remains unknown if the agents now have access to user databases and other sensitive site information.
DNS records show that servers resolving the RAMP domain now belong to the FBI, raising concerns about potential data breaches. This has left site users who were not cautious enough to be tracked down by law enforcement.
The takedown of RAMP marks a significant blow to the online crime community, as it further restricts their ability to operate and share information. The action also highlights the FBI's ongoing efforts to combat the growing threat of ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure and organizations worldwide.
In conclusion, the seizure of RAMP by the FBI represents a major victory in the fight against online crime forums that have long provided a haven for malicious actors. As the online landscape continues to evolve, it is essential to stay vigilant and adapt to new threats, ensuring that such platforms do not re-emerge in the future.
Related Information:
https://www.digitaleventhorizon.com/articles/The-Seizure-of-RAMP-A-Final-Blow-to-Online-Crime-Forums-deh.shtml
https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/01/site-catering-to-online-criminals-has-been-seized-by-the-fbi/
https://breachspot.com/news/cyber-attacks/fbi-seizes-website-serving-online-criminals/
Published: Wed Jan 28 17:05:19 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
