In a surprising turn of events, a cybercrime group known as Ares Leaks has begun advertising stolen classified documents from Russia's Federal Security Service (F.S.B.) on the messaging platform Telegram. The group claims to have insider information and is offering a range of stolen documents, from intelligence briefings to diplomatic cables, at various price points. For instance, a document detailing espionage practices costs around $5,000.
Russian intelligence documents come at a negotiable price, often paid in the cryptocurrency Monero, ensuring anonymity for both sellers and buyers. Ares Leaks provided a sample document which reportedly discusses counterintelligence operations concerning China. This sample raises significant questions about the dynamics between Russia and China, highlighting concerns regarding Chinese espionage as well as Russia's method of analyzing data from WeChat, a widely used Chinese messaging app.
Journalists who have reviewed the leaked material found it consistent with other publicly available records from the F.S.B., reinforcing the urgency of addressing security around such sensitive information. The implications of these leaked documents could be profound, revealing not just governmental concerns but possibly impacting international relations and cybersecurity measures.
