Cyber Risks · Krebs on Security

Leader of DDoS-for-Hire Gang Pleads Guilty to Bomb Threats

Summary: George Duke-Cohan, a 19-year-old from Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to three counts of issuing hoax bomb threats, including threats against thousands of schools and a United Airlines flight from the U.K. to San Francisco, and was arrested by the National Crime Agency on Aug. 31, 2018. He was a vocal member of the Apophis Squad, which ran a DDoS-for-hire service and attacked sites including KrebsOnSecurity and Protonmail.com, and he is scheduled for sentencing on the 21st at Luton Crown Court.

What's compelling: The bomb threat against flight UAL 949 forced all 295 passengers to remain on board during a significant security operation in a quarantined area of San Francisco airport, causing disruption and financial loss to the airline. Protonmail said further charges are pending, along with possible extradition to the U.S.

Read the original at Krebs on Security ↗

Topics
Cybercrime & Law Enforcement
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