GTA 6 leaker committed an elaborate hack with Travelodge TV and Fire Stick devices.
An 18-year-old has been sentenced for their involvement in cyber-attacks during 2022. After seven weeks of trials, it emerged that this young person only utilized three tools – Amazon Fire Stick, Travelodge TV and newly purchased smartphone – to gain access to GTA 6 clips before its official announcement.
Arion Kurtaj was arrested twice early 2022 following his successful cyber attacks against major tech firms like Microsoft, Nvidia and BT. While in police custody after having been doxxed by rival hackers, Kurtaj broke into Rockstar Games’ messaging service and gained access to 90 videos related to GTA 6 development work before posting these online for distribution.
According to reports by BBC, Kurtaj was able to gain access to cloud computing services using an abandoned Fire Stick belonging to his previous occupant in order to gain entry to Rockstar Slack and make ransom demands, including threats of publishing GTA 6’s source code publicly.
Prior to any further damage being done, City of London Police officers intercepted and apprehended the teenager in his hotel room.
Kurtaj wasn’t limited to targeting Rockstar alone during his final spree; according to police allegations, Kurtaj assisted other hackers in attacking online bank Revolut and ride-hailing service Uber while being detained in police custody.
Kurtaj was part of the Lapsus$ cybercrime group, best known for their targeted attacks against major tech firms like Microsoft and Nvidia and telecom providers like BT and EE over recent years. Lapsus$ quickly rose to notoriety through their frequent and severe cyber-attacks that quickly made headlines across industries – from major tech players such as Microsoft and Nvidia, through telecom providers BT and EE – that it launched.
Kurtaj’s trial, now concluded, revealed his actions to be juvenile; specifically when Lapsus$ members would often leave behind offensive messages following hacks. Following these findings and conviction, Kurtaj was sentenced to an indefinite and lifetime hospital order following evidence suggesting an intent for further cybercrime should he ever be released from imprisonment.
Kurtaj and another 17-year old from Lapsus$ were sentenced in the same trial; neither individual was involved with recent Rockstar security breach that saw GTA 6 trailer leak online days prior to official unveiling.
Video game leaks have come under increased scrutiny following Insomniac Games’ devastating cyber attack against Spider-Man 2 developer Insomniac Games earlier this year, prompting much public outrage against such intrusive hacks and leaks which are rarely regarded as harmless crimes and more often seen as highly stressful experiences for video game creators themselves.
