The Russian Business Network has often been cited by security companies and researchers as a haven for malicious and odious Web sites, allegedly hosting exploit-code download servers and child-pornography Web sites.

On Monday, the Washington Post published a good primer on the group, including a story and two blog posts. The following day, Wired News ran an article based on an interview with a person who claimed to be part of the Russian Business Network.

"We can't understand on which basis these organizations have such an opinion about our company," a person who identified themselves as "Tim Jaret of the Russian Business Network" told Wired News in an e-mail interview. "We can say that this is subjective opinion based on these organizations' guesswork."

The Russian Business Network offers up what is known as bulletproof hosting, allowing Web sites -- which, in general, are hosting content judged illegal in some part of the world -- to stay accessible despite legal takedown attempts. Servers used in cybercrime, such as last month's attack on the Bank of India and various MPack-fueled attacks, have frequently used the RBN's services.

While the person interviewed by Wired News claimed that the RBN was not engaged in any illegal activity, he did not give details of who owns the group nor could he list any legitimate customers.

"Our customers are regional providers, legal entities and physical persons," Jaret told Wired News. "We won't give you their names and brands as our contracts prohibit us to do this. We can give such information only in reply to formal request of officials."

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