Ethical Hacking News
Brazil's Polícia Federal has arrested the notorious hacker USDoD, responsible for high-profile data leaks from major organizations worldwide.
Brazil's Polícia Federal has arrested notorious hacker USDoD (EquationCorp) known as Luan BG, marking a major milestone in the fight against cybercrime. The arrest was made possible through Operation Data Breach investigation launched by the PF, which uncovered USDoD's digital footprint. Luan BG has been linked to several high-profile data breaches, including those at Airbus, FBI's InfraGard portal, and TransUnion. The arrest highlights the importance of protecting sensitive information related to individuals involved in malicious activities. International cooperation and collaboration between law enforcement agencies is crucial in combating cybercrime. The operation demonstrates that authorities can track down even the most elusive digital footprints, bringing those responsible to justice.
In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing war against cybercrime, Brazil's Polícia Federal (PF) has arrested the notorious hacker known as USDoD, also referred to as EquationCorp. The arrest, which took place on October 16, 2024, marks a major milestone in the efforts to bring high-profile cybercriminals to justice.
According to reports, the PF launched Operation Data Breach, a recently initiated investigation aimed at uncovering invasions of systems belonging to federal institutions and international organizations. During the course of this operation, the authorities came across the trail of USDoD, who had been leaving a digital footprint that would eventually lead them straight to his doorstep.
The arrested individual, identified as Luan BG, a 33-year-old Brazilian national, has been linked to several high-profile data breaches in recent years. Among these are major organizations such as Airbus, the FBI's InfraGard portal, National Public Data, and TransUnion. His activities have not only left a trail of destruction but also exposed sensitive information related to individuals' private lives.
Luan BG's involvement in cybercrime began around 2017, when he started out as a hacktivist. However, over time, his activities evolved into more complex and sophisticated forms of cybercrime. This transformation was facilitated by his use of poor operational security (opsec) practices. Using the same email addresses and phrases across social media platforms and forums made it relatively easy for authorities to identify him.
The arrest was confirmed by various sources, including a report from CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that conducted an investigation into USDoD's activities. The findings revealed that Luan BG used the same personal accounts on GitHub, domain registrations, and social media profiles across different aliases. Furthermore, his lack of technical expertise at first allowed investigators to trace his digital footprints more easily.
The report from CrowdStrike also emphasized the importance of protecting sensitive information related to individuals involved in malicious activities. Despite their involvement in such activities, aspects of their private lives should be protected unless they are relevant to the investigation.
The popular cybersecurity researcher Robert Baptiste further corroborated these findings through an independent investigation. His confirmation of Luan BG's identity as USDoD highlights the significance of international cooperation and collaboration between law enforcement agencies in combating cybercrime.
The arrest marks a significant victory for Brazil's Polícia Federal and serves as a warning to other would-be cybercriminals. The operation demonstrates that authorities can track down even the most elusive digital footprints, bringing those responsible to justice.
In conclusion, the arrest of USDoD by Brazil's Polícia Federal signifies an important development in the ongoing battle against cybercrime. It highlights the capabilities and tenacity of law enforcement agencies worldwide and serves as a reminder to individuals who engage in such activities that they will ultimately be held accountable for their actions.
Related Information:
https://securityaffairs.com/169914/cyber-crime/brazils-policia-federal-arrested-hacker-usdod.html
Published: Thu Oct 17 01:38:34 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
