12/22/2023
Teen Given Indefinite Hospital Order For Hacking Rockstar Games Using Amazon
Fire stick
An 18-year-old hacker, diagnosed with autism, who exposed early footage of an upcoming Grand Theft Auto (GTA) game, has been given an indefinite hospital order.
Arion Kurtaj, associated with the global group Lapsus$, played a significant role in their cyber assaults on major companies like Uber, Nvidia, and Rockstar Games, resulting in losses close to $10 million for the affected firms. The judge emphasized that Kurtaj’s proficiency in cyber activities and his intent to engage in cybercrime pose an ongoing high risk to public safety.
He is slated to remain under secure hospital care indefinitely, unless medical professionals determine he no longer poses a threat. The court revealed instances of Kurtaj exhibiting violence while in custody, with numerous reports of injuries and property damage.
Due to his severe autism, doctors found Kurtaj unfit to stand trial, prompting the jury to assess whether he committed the alleged acts, not focusing on criminal intent. A mental health evaluation during the sentencing hearing highlighted his persistent intent to resume cybercrime, describing him as highly motivated.
While on bail for hacking Nvidia and BT/EE, Kurtaj, under police protection at a Travelodge hotel, continued hacking, executing his most notorious breach into Rockstar, the company behind GTA. Despite having his laptop seized, he ingeniously exploited an Amazon Firestick, his hotel TV, and a mobile phone to steal 90 clips of the unreleased Grand Theft Auto 6.
Breaking into the company’s internal Slack messaging system, he issued a threat, declaring that if Rockstar didn’t contact him on Telegram within 24 hours, he would release the source code. Subsequently, he shared the clips and source code on a forum using the username TeaPotUberHacker, leading to his rearrest and detention until trial.