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A leaked MySQL database from the RAMP cybercrime forum has exposed the inner workings of a major Russia-linked ransomware marketplace, while separate reporting says the FBI later seized the forum. Analysis of the leak showed RAMP operated from November 2021 through January 2024 as a commercial hub for the full ransomware supply chain, connecting initial access brokers, ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operators, and affiliates through public listings and private negotiations.
The dataset reportedly contained 7,707 users, 1,732 threads, 340,333 IP log records, 1,899 private conversations, and 3,875 private messages, revealing 333 access-sale threads and 60 RaaS threads. Listings targeted organizations in more than 20 countries, with the United States appearing in about 40% of identifiable offers, and victims spanning government, banking, healthcare, energy, technology, defense, and telecommunications. The records showed affiliates could receive up to 90% of ransom proceeds, underscoring how ransomware campaigns were sustained by a specialized underground market built around stolen access, affiliate recruitment, and private deal-making.
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Comparitech analyzed the leaked RAMP database and disclosed details showing the forum had 7,707 users, 1,732 threads, 340,333 IP log records, and extensive private communications, illustrating how ransomware actors collaborated through the platform.
Infosecurity Magazine reported that the FBI took down the RAMP ransomware forum, marking a law enforcement disruption of the criminal marketplace.
During its operation, RAMP hosted hundreds of threads advertising access to compromised networks and dozens of ransomware-as-a-service offerings, showing it functioned as a commercial ecosystem for ransomware operations targeting organizations in more than 20 countries.
The leaked MySQL database analyzed by Comparitech contained records spanning through January 2024, including user accounts, forum threads, private messages, IP logs, and administrator activity documenting the forum's scale and operations.
The leaked RAMP forum database indicates the Russia-linked cybercrime marketplace was active from November 2021, supporting ransomware-related access sales, affiliate recruitment, and private deal-making.
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US law enforcement seized the **RAMP (Russian Anonymous Marketplace)** cybercrime forum’s infrastructure, taking over both its Tor and clearnet presence and replacing them with a “This Site Has Been Seized” banner attributed to the **FBI**, coordinated with the **US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida** and the DOJ’s **Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS)**. RAMP was a key marketplace for **ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS)** promotion and related criminal services, including activity by extortionists and **initial access brokers**; the seizure banner also taunted operators with the forum’s slogan, “**THE ONLY PLACE RANSOMWARE ALLOWED!**,” alongside an image of *Masha* from the Russian children’s cartoon. While authorities had not publicly detailed the operation at the time of reporting, technical indicators supported the takeover, including DNS changes consistent with prior FBI seizures (e.g., nameservers set to `ns1.fbi.seized.gov` / `ns2.fbi.seized.gov`). Reporting also cited an alleged operator (“**Stallman**”) acknowledging law enforcement control, and noted the seizure could expose forum user data (e.g., email addresses, IP addresses, and private messages), increasing identification and arrest risk for actors with poor OPSEC. Background context indicates RAMP emerged after other Russian-language forums restricted ransomware promotion under increased law-enforcement pressure.
Jun 29, 2026
U.S. law enforcement has **seized the RAMP cybercrime forum**, a long-running hub used to advertise and facilitate ransomware operations, malware distribution, and other illicit services. Both the forum’s Tor presence and clearnet domain (reported as `ramp4u[.]io`) were replaced with an FBI seizure banner indicating coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the DOJ’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section; the forum’s administrator reportedly acknowledged the takedown publicly on the XSS forum. Reporting notes RAMP emerged as a dedicated venue for ransomware promotion after other major forums restricted such activity, and that criminal communities are already attempting to migrate to alternative platforms. Separate reporting also highlighted other cybercrime enforcement actions (including indictments tied to **Ploutus**-based ATM jackpotting and other marketplace disruptions), but those are distinct from the RAMP seizure. A different, unrelated incident involved a **supply-chain compromise of eScan antivirus** update infrastructure in which attackers briefly pushed a backdoor via a trojanized `Reload.exe` that altered update settings, established persistence via a scheduled task, and contacted a C2 to retrieve additional payloads; this event is not connected to the RAMP takedown and should be tracked independently as a vendor update-channel compromise affecting customer environments.
Jun 29, 2026
Ransomware groups are increasingly operating like structured criminal businesses, outsourcing key functions to specialists and launching formal affiliate programs across underground forums. Researchers and reporting describe growing demand for **initial access brokers** and dedicated **negotiators** who handle ransom talks, pressure tactics, and extortion messaging, while forums such as **RAMP** emerged to support ransomware recruitment after other Russian-speaking sites restricted such advertising. New and revived operations have continued to market themselves aggressively, including **Eclipse Ransomware** with a managed affiliate model, Tor-based negotiation portals, leak-site support, and revenue-sharing terms, as well as earlier examples such as REvil-linked infrastructure reappearing to recruit affiliates and Maze partnering with other gangs through shared leak platforms.
Aug 15, 2026