Teach yourself to be a hacker through AI, steal millions of personal information at home and abroad, and victimize 230,000 people

A man named Lin in Kaohsiung built an automated attack system and sold personal information from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand on the dark web, and the police seized a large number of evidence. (Photo by reporter Huang Liangjie)

A thirty-eight-year-old man surnamed Lin used AI to teach himself programming and compiled offensive program "grammar". He hacked into four domestic and foreign public and private sector websites, stole about one million personal information in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand, and sold it on the dark web. He victimized more than 230,000 people in Taiwan. The Kaohsiung City Criminal Police Brigade followed the lead and tracked down the hacker in Fengshan.

Hacked 4 websites to steal funds, making illegal profit of 2.7 million yuan

It is understood that Lin Nan has no background in computer information, electrical and electronics, etc. Because he is interested in the "grammar" of programming, he teaches himself through AI and is able to create aggressive programs, and then randomly looks for websites or web pages with vulnerabilities, and then invades and attacks the website's backend.

The prosecutors traced that four units were hacked, including a publishing house that sells books online and a registration website for senior talent classes. After Mr. Lin obtained the personal information, he obtained the dark web and private groups and sold it for about 6 yuan per transaction. Currently, it is estimated that 230,000 personal information was stolen in Taiwan, more than 400,000 in Hong Kong, and more than 300,000 in Thailand. Lin made illegal profits of about 2.7 million yuan, but after he was arrested, he argued that the profit was less than 100,000 yuan.

Selling on the dark web, police found and arrested people during patrol

While patrolling the Internet, the police discovered someone selling personal information on the dark web. After tracing the case, they identified Mr. Lin as a serious suspect. They went to Lin's Fengshan residence to search and seized high-end computer equipment, cloud storage equipment, network switches and other items. It has been reported a few days ago that the personal information of students from schools in other counties and cities has been leaked. Whether it is related to this case, the prosecutor said that the whole case is still under investigation, and the investigation is not public and it is inconvenient to respond.

Lin Nan testified that he learned programming and network construction skills through AI, integrated computers and cloud storage services, and built an automated network attack system to invade the website's backend and steal member information in the database. After the police inquired, Lin Nan was transferred to justice for the crime of obstructing computer use. After the retrial, Lin Nan was released on bail of NT$30,000.