Twitter Hack: This 17-Year-Old Teen Used Just His Phone to Crack Accounts of Bezos, Gates, Musk, and More

The July 15 massive Twitter hack now has primary suspects behind the hacking incident. Three suspects were arrested, with ages 17 up to 22 years old. One British national and two Americans. Investigators now file a report to extradite the suspect in order to be detained in the United States, wherein Twitter was founded.

Who's the 'mastermind' behind the Twitter Hack?

Twitter Hack: This 17-Year-Old Hacker Used Just His Phone to Crack Twitter's Whole System
Graham Ivan Clark, 17, poses for a booking photo at Hillsborough County Jail in Tampa, Florida, U.S. July 31, 2020. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Handout via REUTERS

The U.S. Department of Justice finally released the profiles of the suspects behind the massive Twitter hack that happened on July 15.

Al Jazeera reported that two teenagers and one 22-year-old British guys were charged with the hacking of more than 100 Twitter accounts including the popular ones like tech billionaires Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos; Hollywood personalities husband and wife, Kanye and Kim Kardashian-West; and well-known politicians like Presidential candidate Joe Biden and former U.S President Barack Obama.

The names of the suspects are Mason Sheppard, 19--which was from the U.K., Nima Fazeli, 22, from Florida and the so-called mastermind of the Twitter hack named Graham Ivan Clark, 17.

Clark, which was called to be the mastermind, behind the hacking was arrested on 30 charges. The cases against them may detain them up to 45 years in prison.

The 17-year-old hacker is now under state custody. Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren said that the Florida laws see Clark as an adult, thus, enabling the state to prosecute him under state rather than the federal law.

How did the hack start?

Twitter Hack: This 17-Year-Old Hacker Used Just His Phone to Crack Twitter's Whole System
The Twitter application is seen on a phone screen August 3, 2017 REUTERS/Thomas White

Two days after the attack, the New York Times exclusively made a report, explaining how the young hackers were able to breach inside the 'secured' Twitter system. It was also the first time that the speculations about Russian hackers were debunked.

"The interviews indicate that the attack was not the work of a single country like Russia or a sophisticated group of hackers. Instead, it was done by a group of young people - one of whom says he lives at home with his mother," said on New York Times.

As reported via Daily Mail UK, though Clark was the mastermind. His friends like Sheppard and Fazeli also shared the same crime.

Sheppard who is 19 years old will be charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and the intentional access of a protected computer. Meanwhile, Fazeli will be charged with aiding and abetting the intentional access of a protected computer.

Investigation reveals that they only use a phone to send fake emails unto the Twitter employees.

The Florida investigators strongly said that they will not let go of the case as "This was a massive fraud orchestrated right here in our own backyard, and we won't stand for that."

The young teens claimed nearly $100,000 due to the hacking. Which means the case may get worse soon.

ALSO READ: Twitter Bitcoin Hack: Here's a Shocking Info That Twitter Tries to Hide

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Written by: Jamie Pancho

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