A Brazilian hacker has been indicted in the United States for allegedly demanding a ransom to prevent the release of stolen data from a company’s network breach. Junior Barros De Oliveira, 29, from Curitiba, Brazil, faces charges of extortion, which involve threats to publicize sensitive information obtained through hacking.

The indictment reveals that in March 2020, De Oliveira hacked into a Brazilian subsidiary of a New Jersey-based company, gaining access to confidential customer information affecting approximately 300,000 individuals. Following the breach, he allegedly contacted the company’s CEO in September 2020 using a pseudonym. He demanded a payment of 300 bitcoin, valued around $3.2 million, in exchange for refraining from selling the stolen data.

In subsequent communications, De Oliveira expressed a willingness to assist the company with security flaws but demanded a substantial consulting fee of 75 bitcoin (about $800,000 at that time), providing detailed payment instructions for a Bitcoin wallet.

The charges against him include four counts of extortionate threats, each carrying a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison, in addition to fines. There are also four counts of threatening communications, with each count potentially leading to two years of imprisonment and similar fines.

This case underscores the ongoing challenges posed by cybercrime and the severe implications of data breaches in the digital era.

Welcome to DediRock, your trusted partner in high-performance hosting solutions. At DediRock, we specialize in providing dedicated servers, VPS hosting, and cloud services tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses and individuals alike. Our mission is to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure hosting solutions that empower our clients to achieve their digital goals. With a commitment to exceptional customer support, cutting-edge technology, and robust infrastructure, DediRock stands out as a leader in the hosting industry. Join us and experience the difference that dedicated service and unwavering reliability can make for your online presence. Launch our website.