Eric Council Jr., 26, got himself in a bit of trouble with the law and ended up with a sentence of 14 months behind bars and three years of supervised release. What did he do, you ask? Well, he was involved in hacking the official X account of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The U.S. Department of Justice spilled the beans on this in a press release. Council and his hacker buddies decided it would be a good idea to take control of the SEC’s X account in 2024. They thought it would be funny to put out a fake announcement saying that the agency had given the thumbs up to Bitcoin exchange traded funds (ETFs). This caused the price of the cryptocurrency to skyrocket before it came crashing back down to reality.
So, how did Council and his partners in crime pull off this stunt? The DOJ revealed that they pulled off a SIM swap attack against a person who had access to the SEC’s X account. By taking control of this person’s phone number, they were able to reset the password for the SEC’s X account and take over. This move granted them full control of the account and allowed them to post their bogus announcement for all to see. A screenshot of the fake post was published by the hackers on January 9, 2024, for the world to see. It’s a classic case of cyber mischief gone wrong, and Council is paying the price for his actions.
In the world of cybersecurity, it’s not uncommon for hackers to try and pull off daring stunts like taking over official government accounts. Council and his co-conspirators thought they could outsmart the SEC, but in the end, they were caught red-handed. It just goes to show that no matter how clever you think you are, the long arm of the law will eventually catch up to you. Council’s sentencing serves as a reminder that cyber crimes have real consequences, and those who engage in such activities will face the music sooner or later. Let this be a cautionary tale for all the would-be hackers out there – crime doesn’t pay, and the risks far outweigh the rewards.
As we wrap up this case, it’s clear that Eric Council Jr. has learned his lesson the hard way. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like a lot of effort went into this hack for such a short-lived victory. Not really sure why this matters, but it goes to show that even the most elaborate cyber schemes can unravel with just one wrong move. Let this be a lesson to all – think twice before engaging in cyber mischief, because the consequences are very real. It’s a cautionary tale for the digital age, and Eric Council Jr. is living proof that crime doesn’t pay in the end.
