Serbian hackers arrested over attacks on Croatian Ministry of Labour and Judiciary
Serbian police have arrested three members of the hacker group "INF Grupa" over attacks on institutions in Serbia and Croatia. Among the targets were the Croatian Ministry of Labour and the judicial system.
Three hackers arrested over attacks on Croatian and Serbian institutions
Serbian police have arrested three hackers suspected of launching attacks on state institutions and private companies in Serbia and Croatia, according to Index.hr citing N1. The arrested individuals were identified as members of the hacker group "INF Grupa".
In an operation carried out by the Service for Combating High-Tech Crime of Serbia's Ministry of Interior, conducted in co-operation with the Security-Information Agency (BIA) and other police units, three suspects were apprehended: N. M. S. (22) from Belgrade, L. D. (23) from Zaječar, and a seventeen-year-old from Belgrade.
All three are charged with unauthorised access to a protected computer, computer network and electronic data processing. L. D. is additionally charged with computer sabotage, whilst the minor is charged with extortion.
According to a statement from Serbia's Ministry of Interior, the group compromised and encrypted the systems of targeted organisations or downloaded large quantities of data from them, including personal and sensitive data of citizens. Some victims were demanded to pay ransoms in cryptocurrency to prevent stolen data from being published.
Among the targeted institutions in Serbia are the Republic Health Insurance Fund, the database of public enforcement officers, records held by the Directorate for Foreigners of Serbia's Ministry of Interior, and the Serbian Football Association. Information systems for public transport in Belgrade and systems belonging to several large regional companies were also attacked. In Croatia, they targeted the Ministry of Labour and the judicial system.
Serbia's Ministry of Interior states that through swift action by the service, the sale of compromised data from one state institution on the darknet was prevented, as were already planned attacks on several other state and private entities.
Searches of apartments and premises used by the suspects resulted in the discovery of equipment which police believe was used in the attacks. Serbia's Ministry of Interior describes "INF Grupa" as the most active and operationally successful hacker group to have operated in the region to date. The investigation is ongoing to establish all circumstances and identify any potential other associates.
Source: Index.hr