MACC plays part in global crackdown on LeakBase forum
2026-03-06 - 08:23
MACC’s special operations division executed a search warrant at a web-hosting solutions company in Kuala Lumpur at which LeakBase forum’s servers were hosted. PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and law enforcement authorities from 14 countries have successfully dismantled a cybercrime data-leak forum known as LeakBase. MACC said the forum had been active since 2021 and functioned as an online marketplace for stolen data such as credit and debit card numbers, banking details, usernames, passwords and other sensitive personal and corporate data. MACC’s special operations division executed a search warrant at a web-hosting solutions company in Kuala Lumpur as part of the joint international operation on Tuesday. “Cyber forensic examinations confirmed that the LeakBase forum was actively operating through servers hosted at the facility, leading to the seizure of digital evidence and the shutdown of the forum’s domain,” it said in a statement today. “Investigations revealed that the platform contained large volumes of compromised account credentials, including email and password combinations frequently used for account takeovers, fraud and other illicit online activities.” MACC said the forum had more than 142,000 registered members and over 215,000 messages, including an archive of hacked databases from numerous high-profile cyber breaches. It said the international operation, which involved arrests, house searches, and “knock-and-talk” interventions across multiple jurisdictions, was hosted and facilitated by EU police agency Europol at its headquarters in The Hague. MACC took part in the coordinated operation alongside agencies such as the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the UK’s National Crime Agency, and Australia’s Federal Police. It said its participation in the operation reflected Malaysia’s continued commitment to strengthening international law enforcement cooperation in combating cybercrime and cross-border misuse of data.