UK sentences “serial hacker” of 3,000 sites to 20 months in prison
What’s new: A 26-year-old hacker, Al-Tahery Al-Mashriky, was sentenced to 20 months in prison in the UK for hacking over 3,000 websites and stealing personal data from millions of Facebook users. He pleaded guilty to nine offenses under the Computer Misuse Act, including defacing government and organizational websites to promote extremist views.
Who’s affected
Organizations targeted include the Yemen Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the California State Water Board, and various faith-based websites in Canada and the U.S. Additionally, personal data for over 4 million Facebook users was compromised, along with credentials for services like Netflix and PayPal.
What to do
- Review and enhance security measures for web applications to prevent unauthorized access and defacement.
- Monitor for any unusual activity or breaches related to user accounts, especially for services that may have been compromised.
- Educate users about the importance of strong, unique passwords and the risks of credential theft.
