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Date Published: 06/02/2025

Teen hacker arrested in Alicante after cyberattacks on Spanish Defence Ministry and NATO

The 18-year-old from Calp, Alicante, allegedly carried out more than 40 cyberattacks, mostly while still a minor, and is now awaiting trial

An 18-year-old hacker from Calp, a coastal town in Alicante, was arrested on January 28, 2025, for allegedly carrying out over 40 cyberattacks on strategic organisations, including the Guardia Civil, the Ministry of Defence, NATO, the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and several Spanish universities.

The investigation began in early 2024 when authorities detected unauthorised access to sensitive databases. The hacker, who operated under the pseudonyms ‘dsf’, ‘m1000’ and more recently ‘Natohub’, used the dark web to conceal his identity and infiltrated systems containing personal information and internal documents. Some of this data was sold or shared online.

In December 2024, his activities escalated with attacks targeting the databases of the Guardia Civil and the Ministry of Defence. This prompted a coordinated response from law enforcement agencies, leading to his eventual capture. Upon searching his residence, authorities seized various computer equipment and discovered that he maintained over 50 cryptocurrency accounts, indicating a sophisticated understanding of blockchain technology.

Investigators say the majority of his cybercrimes took place while he was still a minor. Following his arrest, he cooperated with authorities, providing access credentials and explaining his methods. He claimed his primary motivation was boredom and the pursuit of challenges rather than financial gain.

The young hacker is now awaiting trial, and authorities continue to analyse the seized materials to assess the full extent of the breaches and prevent future incidents.

Image: Tima Miroshnichenco/Pexels

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