Category Archives: The Com

Teen on Musk’s DOGE Team Graduated from ‘The Com’

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Wired reported this week that a 19-year-old working for Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was given access to sensitive US government systems even though his past association with cybercrime communities should have precluded him from gaining the necessary security clearances to do so. As today’s story explores, the DOGE teen is a former denizen of ‘The Com,’ an archipelago of Discord and Telegram chat channels that function as a kind of distributed cybercriminal social network for facilitating instant collaboration. Continue reading Teen on Musk’s DOGE Team Graduated from ‘The Com’→

Lamborghini Carjackers Lured by $243M Cyberheist

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The parents of a 19-year-old Connecticut honors student accused of taking part in a $243 million cryptocurrency heist in August were carjacked a week later, while out house-hunting in a brand new Lamborghini. Prosecutors say the couple was beaten and briefly kidnapped by six young men who traveled from Florida as part of a botched plan to hold the parents for ransom. Continue reading Lamborghini Carjackers Lured by $243M Cyberheist→

The Dark Nexus Between Harm Groups and ‘The Com’

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A cyberattack that shut down some of the top casinos in Las Vegas last year quickly became one of the most riveting security stories of 2023: It was the first known case of native English-speaking hackers in the United States and Britain teaming up with ransomware gangs based in Russia. But that made-for-Hollywood narrative has eclipsed a far more hideous trend: Many of these young, Western cybercriminals are also members of fast-growing online groups that exist solely to bully, stalk, harass and extort vulnerable teens into physically harming themselves and others. Continue reading The Dark Nexus Between Harm Groups and ‘The Com’→

Police nab 17-year-old linked to group behind MGM Resorts cyberattack

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A 17-year-old arrested by British police Thursday is believed to be a member of the cybercriminal gang behind last year’s ransomware attack on MGM Resorts and a number of other major companies. The unidentified boy was released on bail as the investigation, which includes examination of a number of digital devices, continues, police said in […]

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British national with possible links to high-profile phishing campaigns arrested in Spain

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Authorities have yet to formally identify the 22-year-old, but reports suggest he was a prominent player in “the Com” ecosystem.

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Alleged Boss of ‘Scattered Spider’ Hacking Group Arrested

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A 22-year-old man from the United Kingdom arrested this week in Spain is allegedly the ringleader of Scattered Spider, a cybercrime group suspected of hacking into Twilio, LastPass, DoorDash, Mailchimp, and nearly 130 other organizations over the past two years. Continue reading Alleged Boss of ‘Scattered Spider’ Hacking Group Arrested→

Potent youth cybercrime ring made up of 1,000 people, FBI official says

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The group known as Scattered Spider is one of the most impactful cybercrime groups working today and has proven elusive to law enforcement so far.  

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Ransomware groups rack up victims among corporate America

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A new generation of cybercriminals have breached a slew of major firms, even those that have made major investments in security.

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U.S. officials urge more information sharing on prolific cybercrime group

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An aggressive ransomware group has hit a series of prominent targets in recent months without any arrests being made.

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