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Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Announces Arrest of Cyber Thief
A brazen cyber thief was arrested yesterday morning for hacking into thousands of student email accounts, stealing private and confidential information from unsuspecting victims.
Jonathan Powell, 32, allegedly compromised over 2,000 email accounts hosted by at least two universities in the United States, using password reset utilities to change email account passwords and gain unauthorized access to other online accounts.
According to the allegations, Powell targeted dozens of universities around the country, successfully hacking into student email accounts hosted on at least two universities’ servers and accessing the social media, email, and other online accounts of many of those students.
The stolen information included login credentials, personal photos, and other sensitive data. In one instance, Powell searched a University-1 student’s linked Gmail account for digital photographs.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, ‘This case should serve as a wakeup call for universities and educational institutions around the country. There is no greater threat to our security and personal privacy than the cyber threat, and hackers must be identified, stopped, and punished.’
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. added, ‘Sitting at a computer more than 2,000 miles away, Jonathan Powell allegedly attempted unauthorized access to more than 2,000 university email accounts. The FBI takes seriously any allegations of intrusions, and we will continue to hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace.’
Powell is expected to be arraigned in federal court in Phoenix later today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is a stark reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime and the importance of protecting sensitive information in the digital age.
As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone who may have been affected by Powell’s actions to report any suspicious activity to the FBI.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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