After Mirai, Hacking Tool Marketplace Shuts Down Web-Attack Section

Online hackers’ platform Hack Forums has permanently closed down its web-attack section from where major distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks using the Mirai IoT botnet, were allegedly carried out recently, reports BBC News. The closure announcement was made by founder Jesse LaBrocca who blamed it on “recent events” and justified the move by hinting it was a preemptive move to prevent the whole site from being shut down.

"Unfortunately once again the few ruin it for the many," he wrote.

Hack Forums marketplace is known for its “booter” and “stresser” services -- low-cost DDoS services often used to harass, to knock rival online gamers offline, or just to test website security. Things got more serious when on Oct. 21 powerful DDoS attacks were carried out allegedly from this platform, rendering popular websites like Twitter, Reddit, and Spotify inaccessible. Hack Forums came under the microscope because the Mirai source code was shared on its website before the attack.  

Cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs welcomed the closure, saying "My site has been under near-constant attack from users of these booter services for several years now."

Read more on BBC News.