Ethical Hacking News
A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for hacking at least 19 organizations in the United States, stealing personal data of over 132,000 people, and making multiple extortion attempts.
A 45-year-old man from Idaho has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for hacking at least 19 organizations and stealing personal data of over 132,000 people.The victim, known online as "Lifelock" and "Studmaster," targeted medical clinics, police departments, and individual businesses.He stole personally identifiable information (PII) including names, addresses, and social security numbers from victims in multiple states.Purbeck also made extortion attempts against a Florida orthodontist and threatened to sell stolen personal data of his minor children.The FBI executed a federal search warrant at his home in 2019, seizing computers and electronic devices with stolen data.Purbeck pleaded guilty to two counts of hacking and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, plus 3 years supervised release and $1.048 million in restitution.
In a recent development that highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between cybercriminals and law enforcement agencies, a 45-year-old man from Idaho has been sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in hacking at least 19 organizations in the United States, stealing the personal data of more than 132,000 people, and making multiple extortion attempts. Robert Purbeck, also known online as "Lifelock" and "Studmaster," was brought to justice after a long and arduous investigation by the FBI.
According to court documents, Purbeck's malicious activities began in 2017 when he bought network access to a computer server of a medical clinic in Georgia on a darknet marketplace. He then leveraged this access to steal the personally identifiable information (PII) of 43,000 individuals, including their names, addresses, and social security numbers. This act alone demonstrates the brazen nature of Purbeck's crimes and the lengths to which he was willing to go in order to exploit vulnerable systems.
In February 2018, Purbeck bought access to a Georgia-based police department server, which enabled him to steal reports, documents, and PII of 14,000 people after hacking into the City of Newnan's systems. It is worth noting that this incident highlights the potential vulnerability of government agencies and law enforcement organizations to cyberattacks.
Moreover, Purbeck continued to harass a Florida orthodontist for more than 10 days with many emails and text messages, threatening to sell his patients' stolen personal and health data unless the ransom was paid. This act of extortion not only demonstrates Purbeck's audacity but also highlights the need for individuals and organizations to take proactive measures to protect themselves from similar threats.
Furthermore, it is revealed that Purbeck identified the names and social security numbers of his minor children and threatened to disclose and sell their personal information as well. This disturbing revelation underscores the potential consequences of cybercrime on innocent lives and emphasizes the importance of law enforcement agencies taking a more aggressive approach in investigating and prosecuting these types of cases.
The FBI's investigation into Purbeck's activities was marked by several key milestones, including the execution of a federal search warrant at his home in Meridian in August 2019. During this search, the FBI seized multiple computers and electronic devices containing personal information of over 132,000 individuals, likely stolen during multiple data breaches over the years.
In March, Purbeck pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally accessing and obtaining information from a protected computer without authorization and was subsequently sentenced to ten years in prison. In addition to his prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release and pay his victims over $1,048,700 in restitution.
The case against Purbeck serves as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with cybercrime and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and private sector organizations in preventing these types of threats. It also highlights the dedication and perseverance of investigators who work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
In conclusion, Robert Purbeck's sentencing marks a significant victory for law enforcement agencies and serves as a warning to those who would engage in similar activities. As we move forward in this ever-evolving digital landscape, it is essential that we remain vigilant and proactive in our efforts to prevent cybercrime and protect ourselves and our loved ones from its devastating consequences.
A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for hacking at least 19 organizations in the United States, stealing personal data of over 132,000 people, and making multiple extortion attempts.
Related Information:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/legal/hacker-gets-10-years-in-prison-for-extorting-us-healthcare-provider/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hacker-broke-metro-atlanta-computer-224226666.html
https://www.npr.org/2024/04/27/1247649283/what-we-know-about-the-hacking-attack-that-targeted-the-u-s-healthcare-system
Published: Thu Nov 14 11:23:16 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
