Ukraine shuts down forum for malware writers

Ukrainian authorities have shut down a long-running forum that was used to trade tips on writing malicious software, a sign the country’s law enforcement may be watching hackers more closely.

Administrators for the forum, VX Heavens, wrote that its servers were seized on 23 March for allegedly creating and intending to sell malicious software programs, a violation of Ukraine’s criminal code. The website called the accusation “absurd” but said it couldn’t offer services with the pending court case.

VX Heavens might have been easy pickings for Ukraine, which has been noted by computer security experts as being a hotbed of cybercrime — via redwolf.newsvine.com