100 Million Accounts Hacked: Ukraine Busts Cybercrime Ring

In Ukraine, authorities have apprehended three individuals suspected of hacking over 100 million emails and Instagram accounts worldwide.

The culprits, aged between 20 and 40, employed specialized software to crack passwords through brute force methods. Once they gained access, these cybercriminals sold the compromised accounts on the darknet to various fraudsters who then used these accounts to send messages to the victims’ contacts, soliciting money transfers under pretenses.

According to police reports, this criminal syndicate operated across various regions of Ukraine and had a well-organized structure. Within this framework, a leader assigns tasks to the members. During the operation, seven searches were conducted in several cities, resulting in the seizure of 70 computers and other IT equipment, 14 mobile phones, bank cards, and cash, including over $3,000.

The three detainees have been charged with unauthorized interference in information systems and networks, a crime that carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Furthermore, the police have initiated a parallel investigation into the detainees’ possible collaboration with foreign entities.