Security News > 2023 > February > 'Ethical hacker' among ransomware suspects cuffed by Dutch cops

Dutch police have arrested three men for their alleged involvement with a ransomware gang that stole sensitive data and extorted hundreds of thousands of euros from thousands of companies.

According to the Amsterdam police cybercrime team, the investigation began in March 2021 after a large Dutch company reported a case of data theft that had come accompanied by a ransom demand.

In many cases the crooks still sold the stolen data on dark-web marketplaces, even after the victim organizations paid the ransom, the Dutch police added.

Stolen data includes peoples names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, bank account numbers, credit cards, passwords, license plates, citizen identification information, and passport data.

Bloke allegedly stole, sold private info belonging to 'tens of millions' globally Eurocops shut down Exclu encrypted messaging app, arrest dozens International cops arrest hundreds of fraudsters, money launderers and cocaine kingpins Suspected Russian NLBrute malware boss extradited to US. One of the men arrested had access to all kinds of sensitive information because he worked on confidential cybercrime investigations as a DIVD researcher, according to Dutch public broadcasting company NOS. "You don't just get access to information at DIVD, so he played it very cleverly," the anonymous source told NOS. "You only get access to information if you really cooperate with an investigation."

The three ransomware-related arrests come about a month after Dutch police collared a man suspected of stealing personal data belonging to tens of millions of people worldwide and selling that info on cybercrime forums.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/02/25/dutch_ransomware_arrest_hacker/