Security · 1h ago
Microsoft tip led to arrest of 19-year-old Scattered Spider suspect
Petet Stokes, a 19-year-old US-Estonian hacker, was arrested in Finland and extradited to the US for alleged ties to the Scattered Spider extortion group. Microsoft shared a Windows 11 identifier with the FBI, aiding the investigation. Stokes faces trial for a May 2025 attack on a US luxury jewelry retailer.
Meridian48 take
The case highlights how OS-level telemetry can become a law enforcement tool, raising privacy questions even as it helps catch cybercriminals.
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Windows 11 identifier used to track Scattered Spider perp after Microsoft shared info with FBI — 19-year-old US-Estonian hacker arrested over alleged ties to infamous extortion group →
Tom's Hardware
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