Recently, federal authorities arrested a man who they allege is the owner of BreachForums, a private security forum and market known for trading stolen data and providing tools for would-be hackers to polish their skills. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) identified the suspect as Jeremy Jolley, who is accused of orchestrating attacks that compromised computer networks belonging to the FBI and the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Jolley, a 23-year-old Las Vegas resident, was taken into custody by FBI agents on Monday on two counts of unauthorized access to federal government computers. According to the DOJ, Jolley is believed to have hacked into the FBI’s computer networks in May and June of 2016 and obtained non-public information about investigations and other sensitive topics. He is also charged with hacking into the DOE’s servers in May and June of 2017, although details on that attack have yet to be released to the public.
Attorneys for Jolley have not commented on the case, but federal prosecutors claim that the alleged hacker was linked to the BreachForums website. The site is said to provide a platform for hackers to exchange tips, buy and sell stolen data and tools, and post tutorials on how to carry out such attacks. The DOJ claims that Jolley was a member of the website and “used the website as a base of operations” to orchestrate the cyberattacks.
It remains to be seen how strong the case against Jolley is, but the charges are certainly a reminder that even the most skilled hackers can be caught by federal authorities. It also serves as a warning to other cybercriminals who may be thinking of attacking government networks: The FBI and other federal agencies are actively hunting for those responsible and are willing to prosecute those who are caught.