Authorities in Bangkok, Thailand have detained a 39-year-old hacker suspected of carrying out numerous large-scale cyber attacks worldwide. The man operated under various pseudonyms such as Altdos, Desorden, Ghostr, and 0MID16B, and has been identified as one of the most active cybercriminals in the Asian-Pacific region since 2021.
These attacks led to the exposure of over 90 databases containing 13 terabytes of sensitive information, which the hacker then sold on the darknet. The victims of these cyber attacks include companies in sectors such as healthcare, retail, finance, logistics, insurance, and recruiting, located in countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, the UK, Canada, and the USA.
During the hacker’s arrest, Thai authorities seized several laptops, electronic devices, and luxury items such as Chanel bags, watches, and jewelry. It was revealed that the suspect had purchased these items using the proceeds from selling stolen data.
Unlike many extortion groups, this hacker did not immediately release stolen data on the darknet. Instead, he would approach media or regulatory authorities to disclose the information, creating increased financial and reputational risks for the targeted companies. In some instances, he even contacted customers of affected organizations directly to pressure them into making concessions, and at times encrypted victims’ databases to escalate the coercion.
The investigation into the hacker’s activities began in 2020, and it proved challenging to track him due to his changing tactics and use of new virtual identities to conceal his ties to previous attacks. Although initially recognized in data leak forums for unique databases, he was gradually banned from some platforms for fraudulent activities and operating multiple accounts.
While the detainee’s name has not been disclosed, Thai media sources refer to him as Chinwei. He confessed to hacking more than 70 databases and claimed to have acted alone, targeting large corporations but avoiding government entities.