Two British Young Adult Hackers Officially Charged With Hacking

Hacker group Lapsus$ targeted companies including Microsoft Corp and Okta Inc, (pic; pixabay doc)

JAKARTA - City of London Police, who have been investigating the hacking group Lapsus$, announced that they had charged two teenagers with cyber offenses, on Friday, April 1.

A 16-year-old and 17-year-old were charged with unlawful access to another party's computer with intent to undermine data reliability, and fraud with false representation. In addition, the two hackers who are still classified as young adults (ABG) are also accused of unauthorized access to computers with the intention of blocking access to data.

"The 16-year-old has also been charged with one count of causing a computer to perform a function to secure unauthorized access to a program," Detective Inspector Michael O'Sullivan said, cited from Reuters.

A newcomer to the bustling digital extortion market, Lapsus$ has surprised and baffled cybersecurity experts with its combination of juvenile antics and high-level access to some of the world's largest companies.

The hacker group targeted companies including Microsoft Corp and Okta Inc, an authentication service company that thousands of big businesses rely on.

A spokesman for the City of London police declined to confirm or deny that the teens were charged in connection with the Lapsus$ investigation.

British police generally do not name suspects. Especially if they are minors.

The force said in March it had arrested seven people aged between 16 and 21 following a series of hacks by Lapsus$.