Suspected ShinyHunters leader arrested in the Netherlands
Dutch police arrested a 24-year-old Amsterdam man on Sept 15, linked to the ShinyHunters hacking group behind attacks on FBI, Rockstar, Ticketmaster.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Dutch police arrested a 24-year-old Amsterdam man in connection with the ShinyHunters hacking group.
- The suspect is linked to high-profile breaches targeting Ticketmaster, Rockstar Games, and the FBI.
- Reports identify the arrested individual as Pepijn van der Stap, previously convicted of data theft in 2023.
- The FBI's Cyber Division issued a direct warning to remaining members of the hacking collective following the arrest.
Law enforcement authorities in the Netherlands have arrested a 24-year-old man from Amsterdam who is believed to be connected to ShinyHunters, the notorious hacking collective that claimed responsibility for major cyberattacks against global entities such as Ticketmaster, Rockstar Games, and more recently, the FBI website.
According to an official press release issued by Dutch authorities, the suspect was taken into custody on September 15th, just days prior to the hacking group's public claim that they had breached the FBI’s network and exfiltrated employee records, as initially reported by Reuters.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
While neither Dutch police nor the FBI officially released the name of the suspect, investigative reports from Krebs on Security and Reuters identify the detained individual as Pepijn van der Stap, a Dutch national who was previously convicted of extortion and data theft in 2023. Following his release from prison last year, Van der Stap reportedly joined a Dutch cybersecurity firm named Neo Security, though representatives for ShinyHunters told Reuters that he has no association with their group.
The capture of figures linked to groups like ShinyHunters highlights the ongoing international cooperation required to disrupt cybercriminal networks operating across multiple jurisdictions. The transition of convicted hackers into legitimate cybersecurity roles, as alleged in this case, underscores complex workforce rehabilitation challenges and the persistent risk of insider threats utilizing advanced technical expertise maliciously.
Brett Leatherman, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, described the 24-year-old as one of the hacking group's alleged leaders during a video statement published on Tuesday, while delivering a stark warning to other members still at large.
"The longer you stay in this, the more we learn about you. You know how to find us, and we know how to find you. I suggest you reach out first while the choice is still yours."
Brett Leatherman
In addition to the cybercrime allegations, Dutch police stated that the 24-year-old suspect is also under investigation for attempted incitement to commit two murders.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the development in a post on X, confirming that FBI teams are actively collaborating with international partners to gather and execute additional leads stemming from this arrest.
Source: The Verge
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