Tag Archive for: theft

Public inquiry hears how Post Office security withheld evidence from people it suspected of theft

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The Post Office security department deliberately held back information on potential evidence that could support the cases of subpostmasters being investigated for alleged financial crimes, an official policy document has revealed during public inquiry.

During the latest hearing in the Post Office Horizon scandal public inquiry, it was revealed that reports sent to lawyers after initial investigations of subpostmasters suspected of theft and fraud included information about potential Post Office failures if relevant, but investigators were told to withhold this from the subpostmasters being investigated and potentially prosecuted.

Following the introduction of the Horizon computer system by the Post Office in 1999 to automate branch accounting, subpostmasters in large numbers began reporting unexplained accounting shortfalls. The Post Office blamed the subpostmasters and more than 700 were prosecuted, with many sent to prison. Thousands lost huge sums of money, with many going bankrupt.

Subpostmasters claimed the new computer system was causing the shortfalls, but the Post Office consistently denied this and suspected that subpostmasters did not have the computer expertise or resources to prove that errors existed. The Post Office used its power to prosecute privately and took advantage of the rule on the use of computer evidence that presumes that a computer system has operated correctly unless there is explicit evidence to the contrary. 

In 1999, this rule replaced section 69 of the 1984 Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), which stated that computer-based evidence should be subject to proof that the computer system was operating properly. The Post Office was a supporter of this change and, as Computer weekly wrote in 2021, had replied to a Law Commission consultation on the proposed rule change claiming the existing rule was “somewhat onerous” when prosecuting people charged with crimes, such as the subpostmasters that run and own its branches.

A question of withheld evidence 

During the latest hearing, former Tony Marsh, head of security at Post Office until 2006 was asked about a Post Office policy used by teams investigating suspected theft or fraud by…

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Infamous British Hacker ‘PlugwalkJoe’ Receives Five-Year US Prison Sentence for Cryptocurrency Theft

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In a groundbreaking ruling, British hacker Joseph O’Connor, known as PlugwalkJoe in the online world, has been handed a five-year prison sentence in the United States.

Notorious British Hacker Sentenced to Five Years in US Prison for Cryptocurrency Theft

British hacker Joseph O’Connor, who is famously recognized as PlugwalkJoe in the digital realm, has received a significant five-year prison sentence in the United States. Following his arrest in Spain in July 2021, O’Connor was subsequently extradited to the US on April 26, 2023. His guilty plea in May encompassed various charges related to computer intrusions, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies.

The announcement of O’Connor’s sentencing was disclosed by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on June 23.

According to the statement, O’Connor has not been named, but it confirms that he gained unauthorized access to the accounts and computing systems of the exchange where the targeted executive worked by employing a SIM-swapping technique.

The court’s ruling includes not only the prison term but also a three-year period of supervised release. Additionally, O’Connor has been ordered to forfeit the exact amount he pilfered, which totals $794,012.64.

Furthermore, O’Connor’s criminal activities extend beyond the aforementioned SIM swap attack. He and his accomplices orchestrated the high-profile Twitter hack in July 2020, which netted them approximately $120,000 in stolen cryptocurrency.

The Twitter hack involved the deployment of social engineering techniques and SIM-swapping attacks, enabling O’Connor and his associates to seize control of around 130 prominent Twitter accounts.

Other Illegal Activities

In addition to their activities on Twitter, the group of cybercriminals also gained unauthorized access to two prominent accounts on TikTok and Snapchat. Exploiting their scheme, they deceived unsuspecting Twitter users and profited by selling access to compromised accounts.

One notable incident involved O’Connor attempting to blackmail a Snapchat victim by threatening to release private messages…

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Atomic Wallet Hack Exposes $35 Million Crypto Asset Theft – An In-depth Look at the Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation

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The Atomic Wallet hack has shaken the crypto community, causing substantial user losses and prompting an urgent investigation. Here’s a closer look at the aftermath, recovery efforts, and the wider landscape of cryptocurrency breaches, along with Atomic Wallet’s response to the incident.

Atomic Wallet Hack Reveals $35 Million in Crypto Asset Theft

An analysis conducted by on-chain investigator ZachXBT reveals that Atomic Wallet users have suffered crypto asset theft amounting to at least $35 million since June 2. Among these losses, the five largest account for $17 million.

After the attack, Atomic Wallet took to Twitter to inform users that they were actively conducting an investigation into the cause of the incident. Troubling accounts have surfaced, revealing instances of token losses, erasure of transaction histories, and even the outright theft of entire crypto portfolios.

ZachXBT, a pseudonymous Twitter user known for tracking stolen crypto funds and aiding hacked projects, independently conducted an investigation. According to ZachXBT’s findings, the largest victim lost $7.95 million in Tether (USDT). ZachXBT commented that the total amount stolen could potentially exceed $50 million as more victims continue to be discovered.

Atomic Wallet Hack Reveals $35 Million in Crypto Asset Theft

An image shared by ZachXBT on Twitter showcases his investigation into Atomic Wallet’s hack, offering further evidence of the breach.

Atomic Wallet has a user base of over 5 million individuals worldwide. In an interview, a long-time user named Emre, who happens to be a cybersecurity professional, shared his experience as a victim of a security breach.

Emre expressed deep distress after losing nearly $1 million in crypto assets obtained from bug bounty programs. The stolen tokens encompass Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Litecoin (LTC), Ether (ETH), USDT, USD Coin (USDC), BNB, and Polygon (MATIC).

Emre highlighted the lack of concrete updates from Atomic Wallet regarding the incident. While the company claims to be investigating the matter, victims like Emre are still awaiting tangible progress. The funds stored in Atomic Wallet were intended for the establishment of…

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