The controversy surrounding former Rep. Matt Gaetz has intensified following his nomination as attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump. Gaetz faces allegations of sexual misconduct, including paying for sex and involvement with a minor, which he denies. A House Ethics Committee report on these allegations is pending, but Gaetz's recent resignation complicates its release. Meanwhile, a hacker reportedly accessed private depositions related to the case. Gaetz's nomination faces opposition from both parties, and his confirmation remains uncertain.
A hacker known as IntelBroker claims to have breached Apple in June 2024, exposing the source code for three internal tools, including AppleConnect. While the leaked code consists of proprietary plugins and configurations rather than the tools themselves, cybersecurity experts warn of significant risks. Apple has yet to comment on the breach.
A 36-year-old Japanese man has been arrested for using a special tool to modify Pokémon Violet save data and selling rare monsters online, earning around 13,000 yen ($84 USD) per sale. He confessed to the crime, stating that he did it to earn a living. The tool he used violates Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act of 2019, and he could face up to five years in prison or penalty fees of over five million yen (over $32,600 USD), or both. Pokémon Violet and Scarlet, released in November 2022, were criticized for being janky, and Game Freak is currently working on a new Pokémon title, Legends: Z-A, set to release in 2025.
A ransomware gang, DragonForce, attempted to pressure a company into paying a ransom by calling and intimidating its employees, but the attempt backfired hilariously. The recorded call shows the hacker growing frustrated as the HR employee, Beth, refuses to negotiate and questions the hacker's actions. The incident highlights the increasing trend of ransomware gangs using phone calls to intimidate victims, and the need for organizations to factor this into their response plans.
The hacker behind the disruption of the North American Apex Legends Global Series finals claimed he did it "just for fun" to highlight vulnerabilities in the game, stating that he didn't hack the players' computers and didn't touch anything outside of the Apex process. Easy Anti-Cheat defended its software safety after suggestions that the hack was carried out through a vulnerability in their system, and Respawn confirmed the hacks and deployed updates to increase player security.
The individual responsible for hacking an Apex Legends global tournament claims it was done "just for fun" and to prompt developer Respawn to patch the exploit. The hack affected two players during the North American finals, causing the tournament to be postponed. The hacker insists they did not access the players' computers and that the exploit was not related to the game's server. Despite refusing to disclose the details of the exploit, the hacker believes Respawn can patch it without external reports. Respawn has issued updates to protect the Apex Legends community.
AT&T denies that leaked data of 70 million people originated from its systems after a hacker claimed it was stolen in a 2021 breach, but some of the data has been confirmed as accurate. Another threat actor has now leaked the data for free, including names, addresses, mobile phone numbers, encrypted birth dates, and social security numbers. While the source of the data remains a mystery, it is advised for former and current AT&T customers to be cautious of potential targeted attacks and to verify any communications claiming to be from AT&T.
The NYPD revealed new details about a sophisticated high-tech crime ring involving a group of moped-riding migrants, including Venezuelans, who used a hacker to breach bank accounts and make purchases at stores like Home Depot. The gang, connected to 62 instances of grand larceny, employed vicious tactics to snatch people's belongings and made significant profits from stolen phones. Two suspects, Cleyber Andrade and Juan Uzcatgui, were arrested and arraigned, with the alleged ringleader, Victor Parra, still at large. The operation, which worries law enforcement due to the migrants' use of multiple aliases, involved making substantial amounts of money through theft and reselling stolen phones.
Jailed Nintendo hacker Gary Bowser believes his sentence was meant to send a message to other potential hackers, stating that it serves as a warning to those still involved in the scene. Bowser, a member of hacking group Team-Xecuter, was released from prison last year after being sentenced for creating and selling circumvention devices enabling users to play illegal ROMs on consoles. He pled guilty to two counts and offered to pay Nintendo $4.5 million, and is required to send them a portion of any money he earns after necessities have been paid. Additionally, he was ordered to pay Nintendo an additional $10 million fine in a separate civil case ruling.
Gary Bowser, an infamous Nintendo hacker, believes his 40-month prison sentence and hefty fine are meant to send a message to others who may cross the company in the future. He was part of a hacking group that made millions from selling piracy-enabling devices for Nintendo consoles. Bowser, who has been released from prison, now faces ongoing financial obligations to Nintendo and has set up a GoFundMe page to help with medical bills. Despite his challenges, he remains resilient and has secured housing, but continues to struggle with chronic pain and financial difficulties.
An 18-year-old hacker, Arion Kurtaj, who leaked video clips of the upcoming game "Grand Theft Auto VI" and hacked multiple tech companies, including Rockstar Games, has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in the U.K. due to being deemed a high risk to the public. The hacker, part of the hacking group Lapsus$, was found guilty of serious computer misuse, blackmail, and fraud. The judge cited the hacker's skill and motivation in carrying out cyberattacks, as well as the risk of further crimes influenced by online hackers.
An 18-year-old hacker responsible for stealing and leaking Grand Theft Auto 6 footage has been sentenced to life in a hospital prison. The hacker, Arion Kurtaj, was found guilty of cybercrimes associated with the hacking group Lapsus$, including breaching Uber and Nvidia. Due to his acute autism, Kurtaj was deemed unfit to stand trial, but a jury determined his responsibility for the hacks. Mental health assessments revealed his intent to return to cybercrime, leading to the decision to hold him in a secure hospital for life. The GTA 6 hack was part of a series of recent cyberattacks on game studios, but Kurtaj's lawyers argued that the game's successful official reveal trailer showed his attack did not significantly harm sales prospects.
An 18-year-old hacker, Arion Kurtaj, who stole and leaked footage of Grand Theft Auto 6, has been sentenced to life in hospital prison. He can only be released if deemed no longer a threat by doctors. Kurtaj was part of the hacking group Lapsus$, responsible for breaching Uber and Nvidia in addition to leaking the unrevealed blockbuster game.
The 18-year-old hacker who leaked GTA 6 has been sentenced to live in a hospital prison indefinitely, as the court deems him a continuing threat. The British teen, a member of the ransomware group Lapsus$, hacked Rockstar Games and released gameplay videos of GTA 6. Despite being arrested before any damage could be done, the judge ruled that the hacker posed a high risk to the public and had a desire to return to crime. The hacker will remain in the hospital prison until deemed no longer a threat.
The teenage hacker responsible for leaking gameplay of GTA 6 has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order, meaning he will remain in a secure hospital for life unless doctors determine he is no longer a danger. The judge cited the hacker's high risk to the public, his motivation to continue cybercrime, and his violent behavior while in custody as reasons for the sentence. His accomplice received an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order. The hacking spree, which targeted Rockstar Games, Nvidia, Uber, BT, and Revolut, cost Rockstar $5 million in recovery and thousands of hours of staff time.
