Ukrainian Hacker Attempted to Sell Government Databases for Crypto

A Ukrainian hacker was caught attempting to sell confidential information belonging to Ukrainian government databases in exchange for crypto. 

According to a press release from the Ukrainian Cyberpolice, an unidentified hacker used compromised personal accounts belonging to staff in order to gain access to more than fifty government databases. The report claims the Kyiv-based hacker used a brute force method to break into email addresses and social media accounts belonging to government employees. 

The alleged offender was caught after advertising the data on a hacker forum in exchange for an undisclosed cryptocurrency via a bot messenger. Police searched the perpetrator’s residence and seized computer and telecommunications equipment identified as being used in the hack. 

According to a screenshot text message exchange published with the report, the hacker appeared to have been selling the databases for $0.10 apiece. The perpetrator faces charges related to the “unauthorized sale and distribution of information with limited access” with a maximum prison sentence of five years if convicted. 

Featured Image Credit: Photo via Pixabay.com