Russian Citizen Charged With Hacking LinkedIn

A Russian man has been charged with hacking and stealing information from computers at LinkedIn and other San Francisco Bay Area companies.

The US attorney’s office in San Francisco has announced that a grand jury indicted 29-year-old Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich Nikulin, of Moscow, Russia, a day earlier on charges including computer intrusion and aggravated identity theft.

Prosecutors say Nikulin used a LinkedIn employee’s credentials to access the company’s computers in 2012. Nikulin is also accused of hacking two other companies, Dropbox and Formspring, and conspiring to sell stolen user names, passwords and email addresses of Formspring customers.

He was arrested on 5 October by officials in the Czech Republic and remains there, according to prosecutors. Russian officials have said they are working to prevent his extradition to the United States.

LinkedIn has suggested that Nikulin’s arrest was tied to a 2012 breach of member information. In May, LinkedIn said the 2012 breach resulted in more than 100 millions of its users’ passwords being compromised, vastly more than had been previously thought.

LinkedIn said in a statement that it appreciated the FBI’s ongoing work to “pursue those responsible for the 2012 breach of LinkedIn member information”.

The indictment alleges three unnamed co-conspirators, one of whom offered to sell the stolen Formspring user information to another for 5,500 euros, or about $6,000 in current US currency.

The US has accused Russia of coordinating the theft and disclosure of emails from the Democratic National Committee and other institutions and individuals in the US to influence the outcome of the election. Russia has denied that.

There was no indication the LinkedIn case was connected to that accusation.

Guardian:

« All Tesla’s Cars Will Have Full Self-Drive
Valuable Security Assets Are Human, Not Technical »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD offers expert-led cybersecurity training to help organisations safeguard their operations and data.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

IT Security House

IT Security House

IT Security House is a leading European supplier of Cyber Security Intelligence and eCrime services.

Silensec

Silensec

Silensec is a management consulting, technology services and training company specialized in information security.

Approach

Approach

Approach is a leading provider of cyber security consulting and secure application development services in Belgium.

Synectics Solutions

Synectics Solutions

Synectics deliver solutions for reducing risk, combating financial crime, and enabling organisations to meet their compliance and regulatory commitments.

Sphonic

Sphonic

Sphonic provides regulated institutions of any size a powerful compliance & risk platform to quickly and securely onboard new customers and manage ongoing AML and Fraud & Risk trends.

Langner

Langner

Langner is a software and consulting firm specialized in cyber security for critical infrastructure and large-scale manufacturing.

Metrarc

Metrarc

Metrarc has developed a ground-breaking technology called ICMetrics™ for deriving secure encryption keys from the properties of digital systems without the need to store any of the encryption keys.

PixelPlex

PixelPlex

PixelPlex is a blockchain and custom software development company with offices and developers in New York, Geneva, and Seoul.

WidePoint

WidePoint

WidePoint Corporation is an innovative provider of Trusted Mobility Management (TM2) solutions.

Crypto International

Crypto International

Crypto International offers comprehensive services for the operation of our customers’ IT and communication infrastructure, with a focus on cybersecurity and encryption solutions.

Sourcepass

Sourcepass

Sourcepass is an IT consulting company that focuses on providing expert IT services, cloud computing solutions, cybersecurity services, website, and application development.

Protelion

Protelion

The Protelion Security Platform is uniquely architected to deliver security solutions that combine greater protection, flexibility, and performance.

Prophaze Technologies

Prophaze Technologies

Prophaze enable organizations and SaaS providers to improve their web application cybersecurity and reduce costs through AI automation.

Methods

Methods

Methods is the leading digital transformation partner for the UK public sector. We care deeply about making our public services better and have been doing this for over 28 years.

Ncontracts

Ncontracts

Our mission at Ncontracts is to continually improve our clients’ ability to manage risk and compliance.

CirrusHQ

CirrusHQ

CirrusHQ are a Specialist AWS Advanced Consulting Partner with a focus on Cloud Management, DevOps, Migration and Consulting Services for the private and public sectors.