Teenager Arrested for Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party Hack Advertising 10GB of Data on the Dark Web
Published
- PSOE hack: A young individual was arrested in Spain on suspicion of breaching the Socialist Workers' Party.
- What leaked: He reportedly accessed internal data and credentials belonging to employees, affiliates, politicians, and party members.
- Access point: The party assessed that the individual gained access to an old app PSOE was using, which did not store data.
Spain's Guardia Civil has arrested a 17-year-old individual suspected of carrying out a significant data breach against the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). The PSOE data hack involved the exfiltration of approximately 10 gigabytes of data, prompting a swift law enforcement response.
The Breach and Investigation
The arrest occurred on Friday following an investigation by the Guardia Civil's Information Headquarters. During the operation, authorities conducted searches at two residences and seized various pieces of computer equipment, including laptops, hard drives, and USB drives.Â
The investigation suggests the minor gained access to the PSOE's network by exploiting a vulnerability on the party's own website, as reported by El Independiente, which cites Vozpópuli when mentioning that data on employees, members, politicians, and activists was stolen and advertised on the dark web.
The perpetrator, operating under the alias "EMBL," subsequently advertised the data breach on the dark web forum DF Community, claiming to have accessed internal data and credentials.
The PSOE said the incident stemmed from a party application that was no longer in use “for years" and did not contain personal or relevant data.
Cybersecurity Implications and Response
The Spain cybersecurity breach case is currently being coordinated by the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office and the investigating court. In response to the initial news of the hack, the PSOE stated that the "computer incident" affected a disused application, claiming it did not contain current personal data as it had been out of use for years.Â
The arrest of a minor in such a high-profile case highlights the complex landscape of cybercrime, where technical skills can be utilized by individuals of any age. This Guardia Civil investigation serves as a critical case study in tracking and apprehending cybercriminals who exploit digital infrastructure.
In August, the Spanish police detained a hacker suspected of plundering banks and schools, while a 19-year-old hacker was arrested for cyberterrorism and a major data leak involving the Spanish Prime Minister in July.
In other news, INC Ransom claimed to have breached the Panama Ministry of Economy and Finance and stolen emails, confidential government records, and detailed financial budgets.
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