Cyberpunk data thief allegedly an army sergeant

The cyberpunk who hacked into a government database and threatened to release the personal data of 55 million Thai people is believed to be an army sergeant.

Police held the unnamed army sergeant and his wife this morning in relation to hacking the personal data of 55 million Thais and putting the information up for sale on April 5 under the name “9Near.”

The Police Cyber Task Force, headed by National police chief Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas, revealed that the suspect’s wife, who worked as a nurse and had access to the Mor Prom system, was questioned by officers.

Police believe the sergeant acquired the data from the Mor Prom application, which was developed by the Public Health Ministry to provide vaccination services and later developed into a health service portal, Bangkok Post reported.

The police have yet to confirm speculation that the army sergeant had close ties with a well-known politician. According to sources, the sergeant is a native of Nonthaburi province, and his supervisor handed him over to the police on Wednesday. His wife worked at a hospital in the Chaeng Watthana area.

The hacker had recently posted on BreachForums, a platform for selling and buying leaked personal data from state agencies and private companies, claiming that he had obtained the personal data of 55 million Thais, including names, surnames, addresses, birthdates, ID card numbers, and telephone numbers. The hacker had threatened to release all the information to the public unless the breached state agency contacted him within a deadline. The message the cyberpunk posted, read…

“WARNING!! If you think the leaked data is from your organisation, contact us before April 5, 4pm GMT+7. Otherwise, we then announce where it came from and how we hacked into it, Also PUBLIC all the data. Almost an election, decide wisely. We are not kidding. For POC, send us your name or phone number.”

The incident raised concerns about the security of personal data, and authorities will have to work out measures to ensure its security. The hacker’s actions have exposed the vulnerability of sensitive data and the need for stringent security measures.

The cyberpunk attack highlights the importance of cybersecurity and the need for companies and governments to invest in safeguarding personal data. The breach of personal data can have severe consequences for individuals, leading to identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime.

More to follow.