Having penetrated the defenses of not one but many of the world’s reigning tech companies that include NVIDIA, Samsung, and Microsoft, the key figure behind hacking group Lapsus$ must be some sort of grizzled veteran with years upon years of hacking experience, right? Apparently not, as an investigation by cybersecurity researchers have led them to a 16-year-old boy who still lives at home in Oxford, England. Researchers believe that the teenager is the mastermind behind the attacks and is so fast at hacking that his activity could easily be mistaken as being automated and coming from a machine. The real question is, which company or agency is going to hire the lad first?
Teen Suspected by Cyber Researchers of Being Lapsus$ Mastermind (Bloomberg)
Cybersecurity researchers investigating a string of hacks against technology companies, including Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp., have traced the attacks to a 16-year-old living at his mother’s house near Oxford, England.
The teen is suspected by the researchers of being behind some of the major hacks carried out by Lapsus$, but they haven’t been able to conclusively tie him to every hack Lapsus$ has claimed. The cyber researchers have used forensic evidence from the hacks as well as publicly available information to tie the teen to the hacking group.
Bloomberg News isn’t naming the alleged hacker, who goes by the online alias “White” and “breachbase,” who is a minor and hasn’t been publicly accused by law enforcement of any wrongdoing.
Another member of Lapsus$ is suspected to be a teenager residing in Brazil, according to the investigators. One person investigating the group said security researchers have identified seven unique accounts associated with the hacking group, indicating that there are likely others involved in the group’s operations.
Discussion (5 replies)
Join Discussion →I'm predicting it is an AI or the teens were paid to act as the hackers. Look at what this hacking group has done and how they are doing it.
1. They are funded. There is real money behind these 'hacks'.
2. One of the key drivers to their success is they are PAYING people to access networks NOT give data. It's a thin line but I bet there are laws there that make the penalties orders of magnitude in difference to the individuals.
3. They are well organized... now maybe organizing raids has taught these kids how to do this right or it's just a thing. But Kids coming into and dealing with that kind of money and or noteriety are rare. And even more rare for them now to flash it somehow.
I suspect as I said before that these kids are being directed and paid to execute these actions for a separate 3rd party.
I wouldn’t put it past a 16 year old
Me either but I would assume that if you are smart enough to do this, that you would also be smart enough to cover your tracks.
Thats the part that gets me. This looks like a kid taking a fall.
I … would not make that assumption. At 16, often the impulse to do something takes over the thinking through of the consequences of that action