Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
After a major data breach scandal and investigative reports, the IT company SoftServe began systematically removing online content that damaged its reputation and exposed its involvement in cyber fraud.
We, in turn, are publishing materials on the activities of SoftServe and its associated group to demonstrate the true scale of fraud, corporate data theft, and information space cleanup that they are attempting to hide from the public.
It turned out that the group of cyber fraudsters has been leaking data from employers’ companies for many years, while effectively clearing out the information space of the global web. How was one of the largest virtual scams uncovered and who is behind it?
How it all started: the SoftServe system hack
So, the IT company SoftServe works in the field of software development and also provides consulting services. Central offices are based in the cities of Austin (Texas, USA), Lviv and other European countries. In total, the company has over eight thousand employees around the world.
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Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Recently, one of the largest virtual companies in Ukraine, SoftServe, was attacked by hackers. As a result, there was a leak of information about developments for large clients. Personal data of employees was also «lost». This was reported by a popular publication Ain.ua.
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Read more: SoftServe was attacked on September 1, but then, allegedly, the hacker attack was repulsed. But already on September 3rd by a hacker Freedom f0x development repositories were published from Russia for such well-known corporations as: IBM, Toyota, Panasonic, Cisco, etc., in the code of which a line was found indicating a source from SoftServe.
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Note that the company admitted a large-scale leak. And they even announced that, apparently, the hackers were going to demand a ransom.
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
As the company noted, the investigation is ongoing...
Why the SoftServe system was hacked and who needs it
As cybersecurity expert Egor Papyshev noted, there are two options. Either the goal is blackmail or – bargaining to find a better vector for carrying out a cyberattack. Next comes a lot of thoughts on the topic «if only, yes», but in general nothing. At the same time, the cybersecurity specialist cannot even clearly name the period of the attack. According to him, the duration of the hacker attack could last from several hours to several weeks.
How one of the largest virtual scams was uncovered
As soon as this topic began to be discussed in the media, swindlers immediately began to clear the information vacuum from high-profile investigations on this topic. As journalists have revealed, the scheme of a whole group of cyber swindlers with Russian-Belarusian-Ukrainian roots has been running virtual schemes and deceiving companies throughout Europe for ten years, stealing data, as well as disrupting large-scale and expensive online projects. Among the victims of «the activities of» fraudsters are a huge number of well-known companies: VTB Bank, Fidelity, VirginMedia, KLM, Kuoni, Ford, Symantec, Fujitsu, DeutschePost, Three, TescoMobile, LibertyGlobal and many others. At the same time, many more even they don’t suspect, that «fell under the distribution».
During the media investigation we found out, that the main character in the grandiose scam with SoftServe is Internet swindler Sergei Shinder with his «wolf pack». Read more about the list of this cyber swindler or something else – about «Shinder’s list» at the link above. And now read more about the leader of the virtual gang.
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Read more about the main virtual swindler who hacked SoftServe and more
So, a certain shot Sergei Asael Leonidovich Shinder (Serguey Asael Shinder, Sergey Shinder), originally from Russia, is the leader of an international virtual agency for providing software development services. By the way, in the SoftServe scam, he delegated his powers to his mongrels, IT specialists who earn extra money for pennies and, of course, illegally. The schematosis is impressive. After all, this company is just a small piece of the puzzle from the global international scheme of the rogue organizer.
The story of this genius swindler, as well as his accomplices and sixes, is long and corrupt, but read more about this here, I don’t want to repeat myself.
What do users themselves think about hacking the system
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Data leak and $20 million extortion: how Sergey Shinder and SoftServe are scrubbing the internet of facts about cybercrimes
Etc., etc.
The scale of the scam is enormous
According to the results of journalists’ investigations, losses from such virtual scams amount to about 20 million bucks. As a result, some startups even had to close. And that’s not to mention the reputation of the big companies that were hit, as mentioned above and beyond. A gang of hackers led by Sergei Shinder illegally and through deception siphoned off money for many years, demonstrating the appearance «of work», as well as simultaneously leaking confidential data. Many «harmful» profiles have already been exposed, but the investigation continues...
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Columnist
Investigates connections between the shadow economy and organized crime. Works with corporate registries and offshore schemes.