Three years ago, 25-year-old Sean Caffrey hacked into the United States Department of Defense communications system. With access to classified information and private documents, the UK citizen stole a wide variety of data.
Included in the compromise were names, positions, email addresses/phone numbers belonging to DoD workers, and IMEI numbers for DoD satellite phones.
Bleeping Computer’s blog explains the cyber-attack in more depth,
“The hack took place back on June 15, 2014, when Caffrey broke into the DoD’s Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) satellite phone network and stole the details of 800 people and 34,400 devices.”
Although Caffrey had access to all of this classified information, he didn’t try to make a profit off of it. In fact, his intent barely reached the general public. Screenshots of the data were posted online, as well as a cryptic nonsensical message from Caffrey calling out a fellow hacking group.
Apparently, Caffrey holds some bad blood with the infamous Lizard Squad:
“We smite the Lizards, LizardSquad your time is near. Were in your bases, we control your satellites. The missiles shall rein upon thy who claim alliance, watch your heads, ** T-47:59:59 until lift off. We’re one, we’re many, we lurk in the dark, we’re everywhere and anywhere. Live Free Die Hard! DoD, DISA EMSS : Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services is not all, Department of Defense has no Defenses.”
Caffrey underestimated the NCA, however. A recently released statement boasts on the solid case they have against the hacker, including a digital trace of the attack to Caffrey’s home computer. In the midst of his eager hacktivist mindset, Caffrey also forgot to delete the evidence off of his hard drive.
Although the extent of his consequences has yet to be released, the defendant did cause damages totaling $628,000. Keeping this in mind, it is very unlikely that Caffrey will be seeing the outside of a jail cell anytime soon.