This is about understanding authentication supply chains - who depends on what, and where the choke points are.
SHELLHOUNDS Intelligence Report + Consumer Advisory
Ever wonder how underground hacking forums manage millions of user accounts?
They don't.
Google does it for them...so does Telegram Messenger, Twitter, Inc. or X, Discord, Microsoft, GitHub and Meta.
Some one listed this out and some other folks we know just mapped and visualized the authentication infrastructure of 20+ underground forums (HackForums, ANTICHAT, Mir-Hack, etc.) and found something interesting:
-Most of them let you "Login with Google."
-Not phishing. Not fake pages. Real OAuth integrations with legitimate providers.
Here's how it works:
-Forum registers an OAuth app with Google/GitHub/Discord
-Gets a client_id (totally automated)
-User clicks "Login with Google"
-Redirected to REAL Google login
-Google authenticates them
-User is now logged into the hacking forum
Why this matters for startups:
If you're pursuing SOC 2 or CMMC, you need to understand your authentication supply chain. These forums are borrowing trust from "big tech" - but so are you.
The visualization shows:
🔵 US-based providers (Google, GitHub, Microsoft)
🟠 Russia-based providers (VK, Yandex, OK.ru)
🟣 Jurisdiction-avoiding providers (Telegram)
🟡 Identity brokers (intermediaries)
Practical intel for defense tech startups:
→ Monitor OAuth flows to suspicious client_ids from your network
→ Understand which providers your team depends on (and where they're based)
→ Map your authentication dependencies before an auditor asks
→ Know that "Login with X" is an infrastructure relationship, not just a convenience button
This isn't about tracking bad actors (that requires provider cooperation + lawful process + way more telemetry).
This is about understanding authentication supply chains - who depends on what, and where the choke points are.
For SOC 2 (CC6.6, CC6.7) and CMMC (AC.2.013, SC.3.177), you need documented controls around authentication in high-risk environments. Most compliance consultants will tell you to "write a policy."
We tell you what actually works in the field.
Because we ran ops. Not behind a desk.
🔗 Interactive map: see below
Your security posture needs to match the mission. Let's talk.
#CyberSecurity #DefenseTech #SOC2 #CMMC #StartupSecurity #ThreatIntelligence #InfoSec #AuthenticationSecurity
Click circles to highlight connections | Drag to move things around
What This Map Shows
Authentication Infrastructure Relationships: Which underground forums use which legitimate OAuth providers (Google, GitHub, VK, etc.) for user login, color-coded by provider jurisdiction.
How It Works
Forums register OAuth apps with providers → Get a client_id → Users click "Login with Google" → Redirected to REAL provider login → Provider authenticates → User logs into forum
This is legitimate OAuth integration, just used by questionable sites.
Jurisdiction Intelligence
Color-coding shows corporate jurisdiction (factual):
- US-based providers (Google, GitHub, Discord, Microsoft, Steam, Twitter) - Subject to US legal process
- Russia-based providers (VK, Yandex, OK.ru, Mail.ru) - Subject to Russian legal process
- Dubai-based providers (Telegram) - Subject to UAE legal process
- Identity Brokers (UID.me) - Intermediary services that aggregate multiple OAuth backends
Russian forums cluster around VK/Yandex infrastructure; Western forums use Google/GitHub.
Practical Intel Value
- Ecosystem Mapping: Visualize trust dependencies and authentication supply chains
- Intervention Points: Identify which providers could disable OAuth apps (jurisdiction matters)
- OPSEC Analysis: Cross-reference usernames, emails, behavior patterns across forums sharing providers
- Network Detection: Monitor for OAuth flows to these client_ids from corporate networks
- Attribution Context: Understand which providers might cooperate with lawful process in specific jurisdictions
What This Is NOT
Not automatic cross-site tracking. You cannot simply match a user across forums without provider cooperation, lawful process, and specific telemetry (client_id + time + redirect_uri + IP/tokens).
Jurisdiction data based on corporate registration. OAuth client_ids extracted from forum authentication flows. Accuracy depends on data collection date.