Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Robert Purbeck, a hacker known as “Lifelock” and “Studmaster,” pleaded guilty to stealing personal information from over 132,000 individuals.
- Purbeck hacked into computer servers of a medical clinic and a police department, among others, to steal sensitive data.
Hacker Pleads Guilty For Stealing 132,000+ Users Data
Robert Purbeck, also known as “Lifelock” and “Studmaster,” pleaded guilty to federal charges of computer fraud and abuse for stealing personal information from over 132,000 individuals. He hacked into computer servers belonging to a medical clinic in Griffin, Georgia, and the City of Newnan Police Department, among other victims across the US. Purbeck obtained unauthorized access to these servers through the darknet marketplace.
The stolen personal information included names, addresses, birthdates, and Social Security numbers of individuals. Purbeck then extorted his victims by threatening to expose this sensitive information. In August 2019, a federal search warrant was executed at Purbeck’s residence in Idaho, where the FBI seized electronic devices containing the data of the victims.
As part of a plea agreement, Purbeck agreed to compensate the victims with over $1 million. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 18, 2024. The FBI Atlanta Field Office, with support from the FBI Boise, pursued the investigation and the prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys and the U.S. Department of Justice. This incident underscores the serious risk cyberattacks pose to healthcare facilities and government institutions.
