Dark Digital Markets: Cybercriminals Advertise Stolen Intelligence Documents

The cybercrime organization Ares Leaks has begun trading classified Russian intelligence documents on Telegram, including ones detailing Moscow's concerns over Chinese espionage. The F.S.B. has reportedly been targeted with a cyber breach, highlighting gaps in security.

The cybercriminal landscape is evolving, with groups like Ares Leaks emerging as notable players in the trade of classified information. Using the anonymous messaging app Telegram, they have made a name for themselves by selling sensitive government documents from various countries, offering items such as Taiwanese diplomatic cables and Indonesian intelligence briefs at astonishing prices.

Earlier this November, Ares Leaks took to their platform to reveal that they were selling classified documents from Russia's Federal Security Service (F.S.B.). While the organization is known for its breech in protocols, Ares Leaks boasted samples of intelligence reports, including a full counterintelligence assessment pertaining to China, available for purchase using the cryptocurrency Monero.

The shared document, attributed to the F.S.B. Department for Counterintelligence Operations (D.K.R.O.), illustrates serious apprehensions within Russia regarding Chinese espionage activities. It further highlights a covert initiative aimed at analyzing data sourced from the widely-used Chinese messaging app WeChat.

Research into this document conducted by journalists specializing in Russian espionage revealed no immediate questionable elements and matched with previously published F.S.B. records. This slip by the F.S.B. not only raises alarm over the organization’s internal security measures but also casts a spotlight on the intricate and often veiled dynamics of Russia and China’s alliance—a relationship critical to current global geopolitical situations.