Who Gains the Most in the 2026 Hacker Forum Wars?

In 2026 the underground cybercrime scene erupts in a "Forum Wars" saga that pits BreachForums, the newcomer NotBreachForums, and a revived LAPSUS$ against each other, creating a drama more twisted than a TV series.

1. "Forum Wars": The Ongoing Series

From both the red‑team (hackers fighting for the "authentic" brand) and the blue‑team (criminals turning on each other) perspectives, the conflict unfolds like an internal war.

2. Main Players: Are They All "Legitimate"?

2.1 Original BreachForums – The Veteran Survivor

BreachForums, launched in 2022, has become the top marketplace for trading leaked data. Despite multiple FBI raids, arrests of administrators, and database compromises, the forum has repeatedly resurfaced, outlasting its predecessor RaidForums.

"As long as the brand lives, even a new alias can keep the game going." – underground forum survival wisdom

2.2 HasanBroker – Claiming the "Official" Title

At the end of 2024, a figure named HasanBroker entered the scene and announced in April 2025 that he would create his own BreachForums. The original forum’s admins responded angrily, calling him an impostor. Their public spat included:

Original : Posted an announcement calling Hasan a "clone" and "fake".

Hasan : Declared himself the heir of IntelBroker’s will, a "legitimate army".

The verbal clash lasted months, and Hasan’s NotBreachForums officially launched in January 2026.

2.3 LAPSUS$ – A Self‑Cosplay?

When the two sides were locked in conflict, a new player claimed to be LAPSUS$, a group that had supposedly dissolved in 2022 after its teenage leader was arrested. In 2025, scattered "LAPSUS$ hunters" re‑emerged, and someone began cosplaying the original group.

"These days even hackers have a 'revival shield'."

3. The Battle Phase: Who Wins?

3.1 Hasan’s Operation Victoria

Hasan launched "Operation Victoria", filing complaints that forced the original BreachForums’ domain offline. The original forum quickly registered a new domain, but the damage was done.

3.2 LAPSUS$ Joins the Fray

Hasan teamed up with the LAPSUS$ impersonator, intensifying the conflict. The fallout included:

Original BreachForums offline for several days.

Internal admins turning on each other.

Accusations of "money‑running" spreading widely.

4. Observations from the "Purple Team" (Spectators)

4.1 The Power of Brand

Even underground forums treat brand reputation as a valuable asset, prompting many to fight over "authentic" status.

Brand awareness is a form of productivity—even in the criminal world.

4.2 Internal Conflict Is the Greatest Threat

Internal infighting proved more lethal than external pressure; the original BreachForums fell not because of FBI action but because insiders betrayed it.

4.3 LAPSUS$ Remains a Valuable Trademark

The notoriety of LAPSUS$ makes it a coveted label that can be repeatedly resurrected for new attacks.

"If I can't beat you, I become you." – a survival rule in the hacker community

5. Takeaways

Underground forums also value "authenticity". Brand competition is fiercer than in legitimate markets.

Internal rivalry outweighs external threats. The biggest danger comes from within.

Revival is a traditional tactic. Even a disbanded group like LAPSUS$ can be resurrected multiple times.

Who ultimately wins? The answer may be the FBI, who likely never expected these hackers to turn on each other.

Source: Searchlight Cyber, "The 2026 Forum Wars"