Jury says UK teens were part of the hacking group behind a ‘Grand Theft Auto’ blackmail bid


Prosecutors said the two teenagers were key players in a group known as Lapsus$ that in 2021 and 2022 hacked the computer systems of companies including communications provider BT, cellphone company EE, software company Nvidia and games-maker Rockstar Games, then threatened to release sensitive information unless they were paid millions in ransoms. — Image by Freepik

LONDON: A British jury ruled Aug 23 that two teenagers were part of a hacking and blackmail campaign against technology companies including the maker of the Grand Theft Auto game series.

Jurors at Southwark Crown Court in London said 18-year-old Arion Kurtaj committed 12 offenses including computer hacking, blackmail and fraud. A 17-year-old defendant who can’t be identified because of his age was convicted of fraud, blackmail and carrying out an unauthorised act to impair the operation of a computer.

The two-month trial was unusual: Psychiatrists assessed Kurtaj as unfit to stand trial, so the jury was asked to decide whether he had committed the alleged acts but not to deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty.

Prosecutors said the two teenagers were key players in a group known as Lapsus$ that in 2021 and 2022 hacked the computer systems of companies including communications provider BT, cellphone company EE, software company Nvidia and games-maker Rockstar Games, then threatened to release sensitive information unless they were paid millions in ransoms.

One of the threats was to “leak the stolen source code for the Grand Theft Auto sequel onto Internet forums,” the indictment said.

It’s unclear whether ransoms were paid by any of the hacked firms.

Both defendants will be sentenced later. – AP

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Poco launches its C75 smartphone (priced from RM499) and Poco Pad (from RM1,399) in Malaysia
Chinese social media buzzes with admiration for Trump’s comeback
In this US school district, some parents are pushing back against a cellphone ban
After Trump took the lead, election deniers went suddenly silent
Australia moves to ban children under 16 from social media
South Korea fights deepfake porn with tougher punishment and regulation
PlayStation 5 Pro goes on sale, will gamers pay hefty price to play?
Roblox will ban kids under 13 from ‘social hangouts’
This robot can fold laundry
Canada orders TikTok’s Canadian business to be dissolved but won’t block app

Others Also Read