Four hackers are charged with breaking into a number of large technology companies websites as well as the U.S. Army and stealing over $100 million in intellectual property.
The hackers breached the computer networks of Microsoft, Epic Games, Valve Corporation, Zombie Studios and the Army. They allegedly stole a number of things, ranging from unreleased software to trade secrets and copyrighted material.
"As the indictment charges, the members of this international hacking ring stole trade secret data used in high-tech American products, ranging from software that trains U.S. soldiers to fly Apache helicopters to Xbox games that entertain millions around the world," said U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell, in a statement.
In breaking into the U.S. Army system, the hackers reportedly stole simulator software for Boeing Apache attack helicopters, which was still in development at the time by video game creators Zombie Studios.
The group reportedly conspired to sell the information that was acquired from the hacks and had even seized $620,000 in cash and "other proceeds" by the time they were arrested.
"Today's guilty pleas show that we will protect America's intellectual property from hackers, whether they hack from here or from abroad," continued Caldwell in the statement.
The four individuals who have been arrested so far in relation to the attack include Nathan Leroux, 20, from Bowie Maryland; Sanadodeh Nesheiwat, 28, from Washington, N.J.; David Pokora, 22, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; and Austin Alcala, 18, from McCorsville, Ind. They were charged charged on 18 counts by a federal grand jury in the District of Delaware on April 23.
"These were extremely sophisticated hackers ... Don't be fooled by their ages," said Ed McAndrew, assistant U.S. Attorney, following the hearing on Sept. 30.
According to the Department of Justice, the group used SQL injection and stolen accounts to get access to the networks of the companies.
Apart from the four that were charged in the U.S., an Australian citizen has also been convicted in Australia for involvement in the illegal activity. It is believed that the man is hacker SuperDaE, who reportedly attempted to sell a fake Xbox One development kit console based on specifications he obtained from the hack. He then boasted about the transaction to video game blog Kotaku. While trying to sell the console to someone in the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Pacific, the transaction was intercepted by the FBI.
The four being convicted in the U.S. will be sentenced on Jan. 13, 2015. While the breach did include "sensitive information relating to the companies," it appears that customer's information was left untouched.
Charges included conspiracies to commit computer fraud, copyright infringement, wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft and theft of trade secrets, as well as individual charges of aggravated identity theft, unauthorized computer access, copyright infringement and wire fraud.
