FBI Arrests Canadian Cybersecurity Expert In ShinyHunters Hacking Case (www.cbc.ca) 25
Canadian cybersecurity figures say they were shocked after ransomware negotiator Edward Dubrovsky was reportedly arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with the FBI's ShinyHunters hacking investigation. "We will continue to work closely with our partners to disrupt what's left of the ShinyHunters group and their associates, no matter where they operate," wrote FBI Director Kash Patel on social media. CBC News reports: Reuters reported Sunday that sources familiar with the matter identified the arrested suspect as Ed Dubrovsky, a Canadian cybersecurity executive whose career has focused on helping clients negotiate with ransomware attackers. Court documents from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania show Dubrovsky is facing two criminal charges: conspiracy to threaten to impair the confidentiality of information with the intent to extort money, and interference with commerce by threats. The allegations have not been proven in court.
"For the cybersecurity community in general, I think that there's a sense of shock," Toronto-based tech and cybersecurity analyst Ritesh Kotak told CBC News on Monday. Kotak says Dubrovsky is "very popular" and has spoken at numerous conferences, but stressed that the charges "are clearly just allegations" and that it is not yet known "what exactly has happened." "This is an individual that was for the most part respected when it came to ransomware negotiations," he said. "A lot of people are familiar with his work as well." ShinyHunters is one of the world's most prolific data theft and extortion groups that's been tied to major campaigns, including a recent breach involving FBI employee data, a cyberattack on Canvas, as well as various cyberattacks affecting companies including Telus, Microsoft, and Ticketmaster.
"For the cybersecurity community in general, I think that there's a sense of shock," Toronto-based tech and cybersecurity analyst Ritesh Kotak told CBC News on Monday. Kotak says Dubrovsky is "very popular" and has spoken at numerous conferences, but stressed that the charges "are clearly just allegations" and that it is not yet known "what exactly has happened." "This is an individual that was for the most part respected when it came to ransomware negotiations," he said. "A lot of people are familiar with his work as well." ShinyHunters is one of the world's most prolific data theft and extortion groups that's been tied to major campaigns, including a recent breach involving FBI employee data, a cyberattack on Canvas, as well as various cyberattacks affecting companies including Telus, Microsoft, and Ticketmaster.
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Sometimes the FBI are even guilty of dupe jeopardy! [slashdot.org]
Re:FBI being FBI? (Score:5, Interesting)
Could be a misunderstanding. In the USA, such negotiations are the domain of law enforcement. So here's someone NOT a part of LE, passing demands, offers and counteroffers back and forth. So the FBI isn't really sure what part this person plays in the hacking/ransomware case.
And then there's the problem of criminal organizations who have paid LE for protection. Can't have some outsider step in and uncover a possible hidden relationship.
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Are you talking about the convicted rapist who breaks laws on a daily basis because the court said he's allowed? The guy who is mentioned thousands of times in the Epstein files and says how great of a guy Epstein was? The guy who suddenly had Epstein arrested and conveniently died while the cameras glitched? That same fat orange sack of shit?
Re:FBI being FBI? (Score:4, Insightful)
Now ask why the FBI didn't arrest him on those Epstein charges. Or any other Epstein clients.
Where's Katie Johnson's 302?
Why is DoJ illegally withholding and redacting millions of files?
Don't mistake two enemies fighting for friends.
Oh, and they're actively framing an autistic black man for terrorism.
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He wasn't even charged with it. And what he was convicted of was... well, Carroll's testimony was that she invited him into a private changing room to watch her try on lingerie. What do you think that meant?
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They have a long and inglorious record of arresting people just because they actually know something about a field. Dr. Steven Hatfill, for instance.
Yes indeed. It's got nothing to with with a co-ordinated campaign which has seen multiple Shinyhunters members arrested over the past few weeks, it's all just a fishing expedition from the evil FBI, yesssirrreeee.
Playing catchup? (Score:1)
Don't Be Too Cocky (Score:2)
Slashdot posted an article on this subject two or three days ago.
I won't accuse them of it being a dupe since this article, despite being the same subject, is from another source.
Right. Like this isn't just Trump dissing Canada (Score:5, Insightful)
Everything this administration does is rooted in or related to corruption, political messaging, or outright hate. Trump is just singing "Blame Canada" to try to whip up his base.
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there are hundreds of other things he could do that would be more effective without putting himself in a position where the case collapses due to a complete lack of evidence that has to be brought to court.
You're right. For example, he could have an Olympic athlete arrested for vandalizing the reflecting pool.
'Doesn't need to be that specific to be an attack. (Score:3)
Aside from a few specific cases that became prominent, do you think he was personally sitting down with a list of borown people to send his ICE brownshits out to attack? On course not. It was a general directive to scapegoat them and make their lives hell... ALL their lives, even citizens and green card holders. Given maga's modus operandi, this is almost certianly just more of the same; and Dubrovsky was not arrested because he's the ringleader of some ransomeware gang but just because he's Canadian, is
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You know Canada has criminals right? I mean We all like to mock America for being a shithole compared to their wonderful upstairs neighbours, but that's all posturing. They aren't perfect.
By the way the FBI works closely with international cybercrime units, e.g. the Dutch Police (yes just police in the name, but they effectively have the equivalent of the FBI cybercrimes division in their ranks). The Dutch started this a few weeks ago, and Trump probably things Shinyhunters is a supplier of discounted goal
Now I have Shiny Happy People running in my head (Score:2)
Re: Now I have Shiny Happy People running in my he (Score:2)
So (Score:2)
1)Initiate Hacking incident
2) Act as Hacking Incident negotiator for the client.
3) Profit!?
Seems pretty brilliant.
You don't negotiate or pay ransomware. (Score:2)
As for this guy, just negotiating should be a criminal offense. Oh, he was in on it? Shocking I tell 'ya.