18-Year-Old Hacker Issued Indefinite Hospital Order for GTA 6 Leak
An 18-year-old autistic hacker, Arion Kurtaj from Oxford, has been given an indefinite hospital order for leaking footage of the unreleased Grand Theft Auto 6 game. Kurtaj, affiliated with the Lapsus$ gang, was involved in cyber-attacks against major tech companies like Uber, Nvidia, and Rockstar Games, costing approximately $10 million in damages.
Due to ongoing threats to public safety linked to his cyber-crime tendencies, Kurtaj will be confined to a secure hospital, potentially for life, unless declared safe by medical professionals. While detained, he displayed violent behavior and caused injuries and property damage. His severe autism led doctors to find him unfit for trial, leaving the jury to decide on the facts of his actions, excluding criminal intent.
Kurtaj continued hacking activities even under custody and police protection, further breaching Rockstar's systems by unconventional means and leaking content online. Meanwhile, another underage Lapsus$ member involved in extortion and data theft was given a rehabilitation order and restrictions on internet use.
Despite defense arguments that the successful release of the GTA 6 trailer implied minimal harm from the hacks, the judge recognized substantial victim impact from Kurtaj's wide-ranging cyber-attacks, including significant costs incurred by Rockstar Games.
Kurtaj and the 17-year-old are the first to be convicted from Lapsus$, with other gang members believed to be at large. Their brazen attacks, including infiltrations of Microsoft and Revolut, have been the subject of international cybersecurity reports, highlighting the ease with which these groups accessed secure networks. The total profits from Lapsus$'s cyber-crimes remain undisclosed.
Kurtaj continued hacking activities even under custody and police protection, further breaching Rockstar's systems by unconventional means and leaking content online. Meanwhile, another underage Lapsus$ member involved in extortion and data theft was given a rehabilitation order and restrictions on internet use.
Despite defense arguments that the successful release of the GTA 6 trailer implied minimal harm from the hacks, the judge recognized substantial victim impact from Kurtaj's wide-ranging cyber-attacks, including significant costs incurred by Rockstar Games.
Kurtaj and the 17-year-old are the first to be convicted from Lapsus$, with other gang members believed to be at large. Their brazen attacks, including infiltrations of Microsoft and Revolut, have been the subject of international cybersecurity reports, highlighting the ease with which these groups accessed secure networks. The total profits from Lapsus$'s cyber-crimes remain undisclosed.
