Dutch Hacker Jailed for Extortion, Selling Stolen Data on RaidForums

A former Dutch cybersecurity professional named Pepijn Van der Stap has been sentenced to four years in prison for hacking and blackmailing more than a dozen companies. He was involved in cybercrimes that targeted both domestic and international organizations, extorting money by threatening to leak stolen data. Van der Stap also infiltrated networks and stole sensitive information. He was found in possession of malicious tools and personal data stolen from millions of individuals. The investigation into his activities began in March 2021. Van der Stap had worked for a security company and volunteered at a vulnerability disclosure institute. He was a member of several hacking forums and claimed to have reduced his illegal activities before his arrest.