A hacker suspected of illegally accessing Rockstar Games data related to GTA Online profits has been arrested.
Dutch police intercepted a hacker Twenty-four years old, he claims to have redeemed himself. The FBI instead charged him with leading the organization Responsible for cyber attacks against Rockstar Games and GTA Online.
The hacker was arrested by Dutch authorities for his alleged involvement in one of them. Leader of the notorious criminal group ShinyHunters. According to the FBI, the man has been active at the top of the organization since last year and was directly involved in a cyberattack against Rockstar Games that previously led to the spread of confidential financial information about GTA Online.
According to Rockstar Intel, the Dutch National Police issued an official notification on September 28 after conducting an in-depth investigation into ShinyHunters, confirming the arrest of a 24-year-old man in Amsterdam. The organization was accused Hacked the systems of more than 100 companies and international organizations, including the FBI, Rockstar Games itself, and Ticketmaster.
Hacker’s identity and role in ShinyHunters
Although Dutch police did not release the names of those arrested, the agency Reuters identifies the world in a row in Pepijn van der Stapresponsible for offensive network security at Amsterdam-based Neo Security. Vanderstup, who has been convicted of cybercrime in the past, claims he has put crime behind him and joined the cybersecurity firm earlier this year. However, according to a statement provided by the FBI, starting in 2025, Vanderstup will continue to operate covertly as one of the leaders of ShinyHunters.
In April, ShinyHunters is the group Responsible for Rockstar Games’ data breach. The group had attempted to extort money from the company to prevent leaks of stolen confidential information.
When Rockstar refused to pay the ransom, hackers published the data, ultimately revealing extraordinary details about the online service’s popularity and profitability: GTA Online is actually cashing out, according to leaked documents over a million dollars a day. The data was so positive that shares of Take-Two (the parent company of Rockstar Games) even rose.
ShinyHunters and FBI’s response
In itself, ShinyHunters denies any involvement Van der Stap, who is involved in the group’s activities, said Dutch police were incompetent.
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After being arrested, Brett Leatherman, Assistant Director, FBI Cyber Divisionissued a clear and stern warning to the remaining members of the criminal organization: “Now, to the remaining members of the ShinyHunters: You have heard about the arrests of your colleagues. We are sure that over the past few days you have seen or heard things that the public does not know. Other groups think that anonymity or their friends will protect them, and they are wrong.”
“Arrests have the power to change who is willing to speak, and the infrastructure of seizures can show us who is alive. The longer you stay in this situation, the more we learn about you. You know how to find us, and we know how to find you. I suggest you stand up first And the choice is still yours. ”
Finally, we remind you that, according to the CEO of Twitch, Rockstar Games will still support GTA Online even after the release of GTA 6, but GTA 6 Online will probably launch in 2027.
