Syrian Hacker Sentenced for Assad Regime Hacking Conspiracy
Original title: Syrian Man Sentenced for Wide-Ranging Hacking Conspiracy Conducted on Behalf of the Bashar Al Assad Regime
The Syrian man was sentenced to 42 months in prison for hacking 47 Western media entities, businesses, NGOs, and US government targets on behalf of the Assad regime.
A federal district court in Virginia sentenced Ahmad Umar Agha to 42 months in prison for his central role in a hacking conspiracy organized by Bashar Al Assad's inner circle from 2011 to 2014. Agha targeted Western media, businesses, NGOs, and US and allied government entities to spread propaganda, collect intelligence, and intimidate opponents. One hack caused a temporary $136 billion flash crash in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Victims suffered losses including $35,000 daily for six months at one company and $480,000 at an NGO.
Unconfirmed: The hacker claims the hacks were for spreading disinformation and intimidation, but court filings confirm direction by the Assad regime.
- Sentenced to 42 months in prison
- Hacked approximately 47 entities
- Caused a $136 billion stock market flash crash
- Targeted to silence reporting on government atrocities
Impact: Data exfiltration and market disruption from state-sponsored intrusions
- Threat actors
- Ahmad Umar AghaBashar al-Assad regime
- Organizations
- U.S. Department of JusticeFBI
- Countries
- SyriaUnited States
From the original article
7 min read at databreaches.netAhmad Umar Agha (also known as Th3Pr0) had spent more than a decade as a fugitive for targeting of Western media entities, businesses, NGOs, and U. S. and allied government entities October 29 – Today a federal district court in the Eastern District of Virginia sentenced Ahmad Umar Agha to 42 months in prison for his...
By Dissent · databreaches.net
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