Security News > 2024 > January > BreachForums admin jailed again for using a VPN, unmonitored PC
The administrator behind the notorious BreachForums hacking forum has been arrested again for breaking pretrial release conditions, including using an unmonitored computer and a VPN. The BreachForums admin, Conor Fitzpatrick, was arrested on March 15th, when he openly admitted without a lawyer present that he was a threat actor known as Pompourin, who was the admin of the defunct BreachForums hacking forum.
Fitzpatrick was released one day later on a $300,000 bond and under various pretrial conditions, including not visiting the BreachForums website or having contact with any BreachForums users or co-conspirators unless supervised by counsel.
"The defendant shall not access a computer and/or the internet unless a computer monitoring program has been installed by the pretrial services office. The defendant shall consent to the installation of computer monitoring software on any computer to which the defendant has access. Installation shall be performed by the pretrial services officer. The software may restrict and/or record any and all activity on the computer, including the capture of keystrokes, application information, internet use history, email correspondence, and chat conversations."
"The defendant shall not access any websites or accounts focused on breached, leaked or stolen data, computer hackling, security research, malware, computer programming, domains, cybercrime, online Case 1:23-cr-00119-TSE Document 38 Filed 07/13/23 Page 1 of 2 PageID# 187 obfuscation, or computer networking, without prior approval of probation."
In a Waiver of Speedy Presentment signed by the defendant in the Southern District of New York, it was disclosed that Fitzpatrick was arrested on January 2nd for violating the conditions of his pretrial release.
"I understand that the petition alleges certain violations of the conditions of my pretrial release, including use of a computer without the required monitoring software and access to VPN services."