BENGALURU: In a big breakthrough, the Bengaluru metropolis police have efficiently apprehended a hacker suspected of illicitly utilizing stolen reward factors and vouchers to buy luxurious items on-line. The police motion adopted complaints lodged by Reward360, a number one rewards and loyalty program supplier after a number of of its prospects reported points accessing their accrued factors.
The accused has been recognized as Bommaluru Lakshmipathi, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Data Know-how (IIIT), Ongole, Andhra Pradesh. Lakshmipathi, who had been residing in Dubai for a number of years post-graduation, had just lately moved to Bengaluru for work.
B Dayananda, the Police Commissioner of Bengaluru, in a media briefing, stated, “The South East Division police efficiently nabbed a cybercriminal who masterminded a hacking scheme focusing on Reward360’s server. He meticulously gathered knowledge concerning the reward factors and vouchers that the corporate distributed to its prospects. By exploiting this, he bought luxurious items, together with substantial gold and silver, cumulatively price Rs 4.16 crore.”
Reward360, the corporate on the heart of this cyber breach, took quick motion by submitting a criticism with the cyber police after being alerted by its clientele. The corporate has been cooperating with the authorities to make sure that such a breach doesn’t recur sooner or later. Such incidents underline the significance of sturdy cybersecurity measures, particularly for companies dealing with giant portions of buyer knowledge.
Upon his arrest, a big haul of belongings was seized from Lakshmipathi. This included gold and silver, a money stash amounting to Rs 11 lakh, and as many as seven high-end bikes.
Delving deeper into Lakshmipathi’s background, it was found that he had at all times proven a eager curiosity in hacking and on-line knowledge administration since his faculty days at IIIT Ongole. His experience spans each authorized and unlawful knowledge dealing with domains. The police imagine that his educational background in BTech, mixed together with his skilled expertise in Dubai, probably offered him with the technical proficiency to execute such a complicated hack.
Nonetheless, this incident additionally throws mild on the rising risk of cybercrime within the nation. The digital age, whereas presenting myriad conveniences, additionally opens the door to new types of crime, as evident from this case. Entities, be they firms or people, want to stay vigilant and constantly replace their cybersecurity protocols to maintain tempo with the evolving methods of cybercriminals.
B Dayananda additionally highlighted the commendable work of the South East Division police in cracking the case and apprehending the accused in a well timed method. He emphasised the significance of well timed reporting in such circumstances, praising Reward360 for its swift motion which enabled the police to forestall additional misuse of stolen knowledge.
The Bengaluru police at the moment are working in collaboration with different jurisdictions to determine if Lakshmipathi has dedicated related crimes elsewhere. Because the investigation progresses, they’re optimistic about unearthing additional particulars that might make clear the total extent of his actions.
This incident underscores the intricate stability inherent on the planet of know-how, a realm that possesses each mild and shadow. On one hand, know-how stands as a testomony to human innovation, streamlining numerous processes and including unparalleled comfort to varied aspects of our day by day lives. It has reworked the way in which we talk, work, and have interaction with the world round us. Nonetheless, on the flip facet, the very instruments that convey us collectively and simplify our lives can be wielded by malicious actors intent on exploiting the unprepared and unaware.
Whereas full of potential, the huge digital panorama additionally harbors darkish corners the place cybercriminals lurk, ready to capitalize on vulnerabilities. As we navigate this more and more interconnected world, it’s paramount that we prioritize staying knowledgeable, recurrently updating our information and methods, and sustaining a heightened sense of vigilance. This proactive strategy is our greatest guess in safeguarding ourselves towards the evolving threats of the digital age.
