Ransomware Rogues: Iranian Hacker Faces 30 Years for Robbinhood Rampage
Sina Gholinejad admitted to running the Robbinhood ransomware crew, attacking city halls and businesses. Their infamous heist? The 2019 Baltimore attack, costing over $19 million. Gholinejad faces up to 30 years for computer-fraud and wire-fraud-conspiracy charges. The Robbinhood gang operated like a ransomware-as-a-service, demanding Bitcoin and hiding tracks through cryptocurrencies.
Hot Take:
Who knew that a guy named after a merry man would turn out to be a digital Robin Hood, except he stole from everyone and gave to, well, himself and his cronies? Gholinejad might have been watching too many heist movies, thinking he could get away with a 21st-century crime spree. Spoiler alert: he didn’t. Hopefully, he enjoys his new gig as a guest of the U.S. federal government for the foreseeable future. Looks like the only thing he’ll be hacking into now is the prison cafeteria menu!
Key Points:
- Sina Gholinejad confessed to helping orchestrate the Robbinhood ransomware attacks.
- He faces up to 30 years in prison for computer-fraud and wire-fraud conspiracy charges.
- Baltimore’s May 2019 ransomware incident is one of Robbinhood’s most infamous attacks.
- The city of Baltimore incurred over $19 million in recovery costs and lost revenue.
- The attackers used sophisticated tactics like cryptocurrency mixers and VPNs to conceal their identities.