GTA 6 hacker Arion Kurtaj handed indefinite hospital order
A hacker who leaked clips of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6 hacker) game has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order. Arion Kurtaj, an 18-year-old from Oxford, was a part of the international cybercrime gang Lapsus$, which hacked several tech firms and caused them nearly $10 million in losses.
Kurtaj is autistic and was deemed unfit to stand trial by psychiatrists. He met his co-defendants online and started hacking with them in July 2021. He was arrested twice and continued hacking while on bail. He is also a keen fisherman.
Kurtaj’s involvement in Lapsus$
Kurtaj and his accomplices hacked various tech companies using social engineering and phishing techniques. They targeted BT, EE, Uber, Nvidia, Microsoft, Revolut, and Rockstar Games, among others. They stole and leaked sensitive data, demanded ransoms, and used stolen SIM details to access cryptocurrency accounts.
Kurtaj leaked clips of the unreleased GTA 6 game, which is a billion-dollar franchise and highly anticipated by fans. He blackmailed Rockstar Games and threatened to release the source code of the game unless they contacted him. He posted some of the stolen footage on online forums and Telegram groups.
Prosecutors and the judge said that Kurtaj’s actions were not victimless and that he caused significant harm to the businesses and customers. They also said that he was highly motivated to return to offending and that he was a danger to others. (GTA 6 hacker)
Arion Kurtaj’s sentence and reaction (GTA 6 hacker)
Kurtaj was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act. This means that he will be detained in a secure hospital and can only be released if doctors decide that he is no longer a threat. He will also be subject to a serious crime prevention order, which will restrict his access to the internet and devices.
Kurtaj appeared via video call from prison and showed no emotion or remorse. He sat at a desk wearing a black t-shirt and blinked and fidgeted with his fingers. He did not speak or give any evidence in court.
Kurtaj’s sentence marks the end of a long and complex investigation into the activities of Lapsus$, which exposed the vulnerabilities and risks of the digital world. It also sends a clear message that cybercrime does not pay and that justice will be served. (GTA 6 hacker)
