Tag: cybercrime
870 articles
Feds Charge Ransomware 'Fixer' with Defrauding Clients
Meet Zohar Pinhasi, a so-called ransomware "fixer" who's accused of running a brazen scheme that raked in over $19 million from desperate clients, with a simple twist: he paid just $8 million in ransoms, pocketing the rest.
Ransomware Recovery CEO Charged in Alleged Secret Ransom Payments Scheme
A CEO's shocking scheme to profit from ransomware recovery has landed him in hot water, accused of secretly paying off ransomers while pretending to decrypt the malware for his clients, leaving them victimized twice over. The alleged scam, which ran from 2018 to 2023, could now cost him up to 20 years in prison.
UK Police Urge Passkey Adoption Amid 425% Surge in Hacking Profits
Hackers are raking in a whopping 425% more profits, with cybercrime linked to email and social media hacking hitting £6.3m in 2025/6 - and experts warn it's time to ditch passwords for good and switch to passkeys to protect yourself. The UK's Report Fraud service is sounding the alarm and launching a public campaign to help you safeguard your online life.
Ransomware Affiliate Betrays Partners, Siphons Victim Funds
In a shocking betrayal, a rogue ransomware affiliate named Azazel secretly siphoned off victim funds and ran his own leak site, defying the standard rules of the ransomware-as-a-service partnership. This brazen move not only hurt his partners but also left victims vulnerable to further exploitation.
FBI Arrests Multiple Suspects Linked to ShinyHunters Hack
The FBI has scored a major win in the fight against cybercrime, arresting multiple suspects linked to the notorious ShinyHunters hack, and vowing to leave no stone unturned in bringing all responsible individuals to justice. The operation is ongoing, with the bureau working closely with law enforcement partners to crack down on the group.
US Arrests Alleged Developer of Ploutus ATM Malware
A major breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime: US authorities have arrested Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, the alleged mastermind behind the notorious Ploutus ATM malware that drained over $5.4 million from banks and credit unions nationwide. The suspect, also known as "Prometheus" and "The Engineer," was added to the FBI's Most Wanted list in 2026 and now faces charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Authorities Disrupt KillSec Extortion Group in Global Operation
In a major breakthrough, law enforcement agencies from 10 countries joined forces to dismantle the notorious KillSec Extortion Group, seizing key infrastructure and arresting three suspects behind the gang's notorious extortion spree that compromised around 500 organizations. This global operation, dubbed "Operation KillSwitch," resulted in the confiscation of 110 terabytes of data and critical servers used by the group.
Police Disrupt KillSec Ransomware Group, Arrest Suspects Worldwide
In a major cybercrime crackdown, international law enforcement agencies joined forces to dismantle the notorious KillSec Ransomware Group, arresting suspects and seizing key servers, domains, and cryptocurrency wallets. The operation resulted in a massive haul of at least 110 terabytes of data, dealing a significant blow to the group's extortion campaign.
Law Enforcement Disrupts KillSec Ransomware Gang Led by Teenager
In a major breakthrough, international authorities have successfully disrupted the notorious KillSec Ransomware Gang, led by a teenager, in a coordinated effort dubbed Operation KillSwitch. The operation, backed by Europol and cybersecurity experts, has taken down the gang's servers, dark-web leak site, and seized a staggering 110 terabytes of stolen data.
Dutch Police Apprehend Alleged ShinyHunters Leader
A major blow has been dealt to the notorious ShinyHunters cybercrime group with the arrest of a 24-year-old man in Amsterdam, accused of helping to orchestrate a string of high-profile extortion attacks that have netted at least $70 million since last year. The suspect has been ordered to be detained for 90 days in Rotterdam as authorities continue to crack down on the group's activities.
FBI Pursues ShinyHunters Members After Key Arrest
A major breakthrough in the case against ShinyHunters has been made with the arrest of a 24-year-old Amsterdam man, who had a treasure trove of incriminating information on his laptop, including chilling details about planned murders abroad. The suspect's pre-trial detention has been extended by 90 days, and Dutch police warn that more arrests may be on the horizon.
FBI Targets ShinyHunters with Takedown Warning
The FBI has issued a stark warning to the ShinyHunters gang: Brett Leatherman, assistant director for the Cyber Division, told members in a videotaped message that investigators are closing in and urged them to turn themselves in while they still can. The warning comes on the heels of a recent arrest by the Dutch National Police.
Dutch Hacker Arrest Sparks ShinyHunters Escalation
In a show of solidarity, ShinyHunters vowed to support their team member, providing emotional, mental, and financial backing, as well as a criminal defense lawyer, amid a Dutch investigation that led to the arrest of 24-year-old Pepijn van der Stap. The group made the statement in response to reports about the suspected member's detention in mid-September.
Dutch Hacker Arrested in ShinyHunters Investigation
A 24-year-old Dutch hacker, known online as "Umbreon," has been arrested in Amsterdam as part of an investigation into the notorious ShinyHunters hacking group. The suspect, identified as Pepijn van der Stap, is set to appear in Rotterdam District Court on September 29.
US Soldier Sentenced for Hacking, Extorting Tech Firms
Meet Cameron John Wagenius, a 21-year-old former US Army soldier who hacked into tech giants like AT&T and Verizon, and was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his crimes, including extorting victim organizations for stolen data. He pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges, including aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
US Soldier Sentenced for Telecom Extortions
Meet Cameron John Wagenius, a 22-year-old US soldier who traded in his security clearance for a life of cybercrime, exploiting exposed Snowflake credentials to orchestrate a massive data heist. As Kiberphant0m, he and his co-conspirators downloaded sensitive data from major Snowflake customers, earning a guilty plea and a federal sentence.
Soldier's Cybercrime Spree Targets AT&T, Snowflake, Ends in 70-Month Sentence
Meet Cameron Wagenius, a former soldier who traded his badge of honor for a life of cybercrime, targeting giants like AT&T and Snowflake in a brazen spree that ultimately led to a 70-month prison sentence and a hefty restitution order of nearly $295,000. His guilty plea and sentencing bring closure to a multi-year saga of digital deception and attempted extortion that threatened to drain over $1 million from his victims.
North Korea Targets Bitget in $387.5M Crypto Heist
North Korean hackers pulled off a brazen $387.5 million crypto heist by infiltrating a key backend system of Bitget, a leading crypto exchange, and exploiting it to siphon off digital assets. The attack, bearing all the hallmarks of a sophisticated North Korean operation, left Bitget's cold wallets and customer balances remarkably unscathed.
Russian Infostealer Targets Ukraine via Lunex Malware Platform
Meet the Lunex Malware Platform, a tool used by a Russian-speaking threat actor to launch a financially motivated infostealer campaign targeting Ukraine, and get the inside scoop on its alleged origins and four-stage attack chain. This malware-as-a-service platform is sold to cybercriminal customers, posing a significant threat to cyber defence.
Rydox Admin Pleads Guilty in Major Cybercrime Crackdown
In a major cybercrime crackdown, Ardit Kutleshi, a 28-year-old Kosovar national, has pleaded guilty to running Rydox, an illicit online marketplace that sold stolen personal info, including Social Security numbers, credit card details, and login credentials, of thousands of US citizens. The guilty plea comes after a massive investigation into over 7,600 sales of sensitive data on the platform.
AI Tools Fuel $18,000 Data Heist Across 27 Firms
In a shocking near-autonomous theft campaign, hackers used AI tools to siphon data from 27 companies, including a Fortune 500 firm and a major US airline, in a matter of hours. The attackers launched at least 105 attacks in just five days, leaving a trail of compromised businesses in their wake.
AI Agents Fuel 600K Credit Card Heist, Infect 100+ Sites
In a massive heist, over 600,000 valid credit card details were stolen from online retailers using open-source AI agent frameworks to compromise at least 119 websites and deliver skimmer malware at scale. The alarming campaign, active since July, saw a concentrated burst of 105 attack waves in just five days, targeting major companies and leaving a trail of digital devastation.
Elsevier Redirect Attack Exposes LAPSUS$ Revival
Students trying to access Elsevier's website were shocked to find themselves redirected to a notorious hacking group's leak page, sparking concerns over a possible security breach. The incident was quickly contained, but not before some users shared their alarming experiences on social media.
Ransomware Attacks Soar to Record 1073 in August
Ransomware attacks just hit a record high, with a staggering 1,073 organizations falling victim in August - a 12% surge from the previous month and a clear sign that these threats are on the rise. This worrying trend marks the second consecutive month of peak activity, with North America bearing a significant 44% of the incidents.