LATVIAN police have arrested a 23-year-old man suspected of hacking at least two companies, stealing personal information and attempting to extort money from them, according to authorities. The first attack was detected in February, while a second incident involving similar methods was discovered in early September at TSC, an electronics repair company owned by Latvian telecommunications group LMT.
Police said the suspect allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in the companies’ websites to gain unauthorised access to databases and extract information, including personal data. He then reportedly contacted the affected companies using anonymous email accounts, demanding payment in return for not disclosing the stolen information. The supplied report does not state how much data was taken, whether any payment was made, or whether the suspect has been charged.