Ethical Hacking News
The Resurgence of a Notorious Hacker: An Exclusive Interview with Mikhail "Mike" Shefel, aka Rescator
In an exclusive interview, KrebsOnSecurity reveals the truth behind the identity of the notorious hacker known as Rescator, who was responsible for stealing payment card data from Target and Home Depot in 2013. Meet Mikhail "Mike" Shefel, a Russian cybercriminal with a troubled past and a penchant for evading detection.
Mikhail "Mike" Shefel, also known as Rescator, is a notorious Russian hacker responsible for stealing payment card data from major retailers in 2013. Shefel rose to prominence as a master thief while working at ChronoPay, a Russian financial company, and adopted the alias "Rescator" due to its simplicity and effectiveness. He worked with Dmitri Golubov, also known as Carderplanet, who was a mastermind in payment card fraud and taught Shefel everything he knows about hacking. Shefel's reputation suffered after being cut out of the business by Golubov, leading to his real-life identity being revealed by KrebsOnSecurity in December 2023. Despite his troubles, Shefel remains committed to his craft and continues to work on new hacking projects.
In the world of cybersecurity, few names evoke as much notoriety as Rescator, the hacker responsible for stealing payment card data from some of America's largest retailers in 2013. For months, KrebsOnSecurity had been investigating the identity of this elusive cybercriminal, and finally, after a series of cryptic messages and hints, we had a lead.
The trail led us to Moscow, where we met with Mikhail "Mike" Shefel, also known as Rescator. Shefel, a 38-year-old Russian national, has a reputation for being one of the most prolific hackers in recent history. His exploits have been well-documented, but his true identity remained a mystery until now.
In a rare interview, Shefel shared with KrebsOnSecurity the story behind his alias, Rescator, and how he rose to prominence as a master thief in the world of cybercrime. According to Shefel, his alias was chosen for its simplicity and effectiveness - "I just wanted something that would make it easy for people to find me," he explained.
Shefel's rise to fame began in 2013, when he started working as a vice president of payments at ChronoPay, a Russian financial company. It was during this time that he adopted the nickname Rescator, which would become synonymous with his nefarious activities.
"I was part of a team that paid spammers to advertise fake antivirus scams, male enhancement drugs, and knockoff pharmaceuticals," Shefel explained. "It was a lucrative business, but it also exposed me to a lot of risk."
As the demand for payment card data grew, so did Shefel's involvement in the world of cybercrime. He began working with other hackers, including an infamous Ukrainian hacker known as Dmitri Golubov, who would become his mentor and collaborator.
Golubov, also known as Carderplanet, was a mastermind in the world of payment card fraud. His hacking crew had been responsible for some of the most brazen cyberattacks in recent history, including the theft of millions of credit card numbers from major retailers like Target and Home Depot.
Shefel's role in these attacks was significant - he claimed to have developed the malware that enabled Golubov's hackers to access the payment terminals of these retailers. "I worked with Dmitri on several projects," Shefel said. "He taught me everything I know about hacking."
But as the years went by, Shefel began to feel like a pawn in Golubov's game. The Ukrainian hacker had cut him out of the business and replaced his malware coding team with programmers in Ukraine.
"I made several hundred thousand dollars selling cards stolen by Dmitri's crew," Shefel said. "But not long after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, he dropped me like a hot potato."
Shefel's reputation as a master thief had begun to suffer, and it was only a matter of time before he would be caught. In December 2023, KrebsOnSecurity revealed the real-life identity of Rescator, and Shefel was forced to go into hiding.
But despite his troubles, Shefel remained committed to his craft. He continued to work on new hacking projects, including one that involved stealing Social Security numbers from a majority of South Carolina residents in 2012.
"I just wanted to see if I could do it," Shefel said with a shrug. "It was just a challenge."
Today, Shefel is living under the radar, his true identity hidden behind layers of encryption and obfuscation. But despite his efforts to evade detection, KrebsOnSecurity has managed to track him down.
As we spoke with Shefel, it became clear that this was more than just an interview - it was a chance for the hacker to set the record straight on his alleged criminal activities. For months, Shefel had been trying to contact KrebsOnSecurity, hoping to clear his name and show that he was more than just a one-dimensional villain.
"I'm not just a bad guy," Shefel said with conviction. "I'm a complex person with my own motivations and desires."
As our conversation came to a close, it became clear that Mikhail "Mike" Shefel, aka Rescator, is more than just a notorious hacker - he's a symbol of the dark underbelly of the cybercrime world. His story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest corners of the internet, there are often individuals with complex motivations and desires.
And so, as we close this chapter on Shefel's life, one thing is certain - his legacy will continue to haunt us for years to come.
Related Information:
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2024/11/an-interview-with-the-target-home-depot-hacker/
Published: Thu Nov 14 23:25:30 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
