A recent article from Dark Reading highlights how cybercriminals sometimes make mistakes that end up helping cybersecurity defenders. One major example is a server bug called “DanaBleed,” found in the control systems of the DanaBot malware operation. This bug leaked sensitive data for nearly three years, including private encryption keys, victim information, infection statistics, and details about the group’s infrastructure. It gave researchers a rare and detailed view into how this Russian cybercrime service has worked since 2018.

This isn’t a one-time incident. Many hacking groups have poor operational security (OpSec) and sometimes leave their systems exposed by accident. Other times, insiders leak data out of frustration, or rival hacker groups break into each other’s systems and expose everything. Examples of this include leaks from Trickbot, Conti, Black Basta, and even the LockBit group.

These kinds of leaks are incredibly valuable for cybersecurity teams. They provide detailed insight into how cybercriminals operate, the tools they use, and who they work with. This helps defenders improve their detection tools, map out hacker infrastructure, and sometimes even assist law enforcement in taking down these groups. Experts recommend that organizations pay close attention to these leaks as part of their threat intelligence strategy—not just to understand the threats, but to actively use that knowledge to protect themselves better.

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Source: https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/hacking-hackers-bad-guys-guard-down