UK Teenager Convicted of TalkTalk Hack Indicted in US for Cryptocurrency Theft
A UK teenager who was previously convicted for hacking ISP TalkTalk in a high-profile 2015 data breach has now been indicted in the US for his involvement in stealing funds from customers of a cryptocurrency exchange.
Details of the Case
Elliott Gunton, a 19-year-old from Old Catton, near Norwich, is facing charges alongside US citizen Anthony Nashatka for their alleged role in targeting the EtherDelta exchange. The duo is accused of gaining control of an admin account belonging to CEO Zachary Coburn back in 2017. They reportedly manipulated the site’s DNS records to redirect customers to a domain under their control, allowing them to harvest customer credentials and steal cryptocurrency from their accounts.
Reports suggest that one victim lost $800,000 in the operation, although the total sum stolen is currently unknown. The charges filed in San Francisco could result in prison sentences of up to 20 years for Gunton and Nashatka.
Past Convictions
Gunton made headlines in the past when he hacked TalkTalk at the age of 16. In August, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison for offering hacking services online and was ordered to pay back £400,000 in cryptocurrency that he allegedly made from these illegal activities. Following his arrest, authorities were able to trace at least £275,000 of these funds, although it remains unclear if any of them were linked to the EtherDelta attack.
Expert Insights
Edgard Capdevielle, CEO of Nozomi Networks, emphasized that law enforcement agencies are ramping up efforts to catch cyber-criminals. He highlighted the advancements in tools used to track down perpetrators, making it increasingly difficult for hackers to evade capture. Capdevielle noted that cybercriminals should think twice before launching attacks, as traces of their activities will always be left behind.
As cybercrime continues to evolve, it is crucial for authorities to stay ahead of the curve and hold individuals accountable for their illegal actions. The case of Gunton and Nashatka serves as a reminder that cybercriminals will face consequences for their activities, regardless of their location or age.