Hacker nabbed for trying to sell govt data on dark web

KUALA LUMPUR: A suspected hacker has been arrested for attempting to sell data belonging to a government agency on the dark web.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the suspect was arrested here in a raid on Dec 25.

"The 24-year-old suspect was believed to have offered data belonging to the government agency for US$200 (RM927.40) per set.

"He (wanted) payment in the form of cryptocurrency," he told reporters on Thursday (Jan 4).

He said the suspect was identified and caught based on the diligence and swift action of the department’s Cryptocurrency Crime Investigation Unit.

"The suspect was remanded for four days before he was released on police bail.

"We have classified the case under Section 4(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997 for unauthorised modification of the contents of any computer," he said.

When asked, Comm Ramli said the data in question involved personal and sensitive data pertaining to the government agency.

"Based on our investigation, this is believed to be the suspect's first offence as he has no record.

"The suspect has experience in information and communications technology," he said.