Title: Teen Hacker Indefinitely Detained for Leaking Grand Theft Auto 6 Clips
An 18-year-old hacker from Oxford, Arion Kurtaj, has been given an indefinite hospital order after leaking clips of the highly anticipated game, Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). Kurtaj, a key member of the cyber-crime gang known as Lapsus$, has been responsible for attacks on major tech giants like Uber, Nvidia, and Rockstar Games, resulting in nearly $10 million in losses for these companies.
Due to his acute autism, Kurtaj was deemed unfit to stand trial, but the jury concluded that he was responsible for the alleged acts, regardless of criminal intent. Kurtaj’s violent behavior while in custody, which involved causing injury and property damage, demonstrated the severity of his risk to the public. A mental health assessment revealed that he expressed a strong desire to return to cyber-crime as soon as possible, indicating a high level of motivation.
Despite having his laptop confiscated, Kurtaj ingeniously used an Amazon Firestick, a hotel TV, and a mobile phone to breach Rockstar Games and steal 90 clips of the yet-to-be-released GTA 6. He then posted the clips and source code on a forum, under the username TeaPotUberHacker, leading to his rearrest and detention until his trial.
During the trial, the defense argued that the success of the game’s trailer indicated that Kurtaj’s hack did not cause serious harm. However, the court acknowledged the true victims and harm caused by Lapsus$’s multiple hacks, leading to its members facing legal consequences. Another member of Lapsus$, a 17-year-old who cannot be named, was found guilty in the same trial and sentenced to an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order.
Lapsus$ is described as a “digital bandit” group primarily consisting of teenagers who employ con-man tactics and hacking methods to infiltrate well-defended organizations such as Microsoft and Revolut. The audacity of their attacks in 2021 and 2022 stunned the cyber-security world, ultimately prompting US cyber-authorities to issue a report on Lapsus$ and other teen hacker gangs, emphasizing their ability to breach even the most robust defenses.
The arrest and detention of Arion Kurtaj, along with the conviction of his accomplice, is a significant milestone in the battle against cyber-crime. It serves as a reminder of the serious consequences that hacking can have on individuals, corporations, and the wider digital landscape. Authorities and industry leaders must remain vigilant and invest in robust security measures to combat the increasing threat of cyber-crime, particularly from young hackers like those in Lapsus$.
