Belgium hacker sentenced to prison for throwing Molotov cocktail and launching DDoS attacks

• Brecht launched DDoS attacks against Crelan's e-banking portal, causing service outages and disruptions on several occasions.
• He has also launched DDoS attacks against a pizza outlet, bringing down the restaurant’s website several times and demanding a ransom payment to stop the attacks.

A Belgium hacker has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for past cyber crimes including throwing Molotov cocktail and launching DDoS attacks.

The detailed picture

The defendant named Brecht S. is a 35-year-old man from the Roeselare city in Belgium. Brecht was initially arrested in 2014 after throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Crelan Bank office in Rumbeke.

• The suspect was easily tracked and arrested because he dropped a USB thumb drive on the ground while throwing the Molotov cocktail.
• The USB thumb drive contained details about the hacker and a further investigation revealed the past history of cyber crimes carried out by him.

Cyber crimes

Brecht launched DDoS attacks against Crelan's e-banking portal, causing service outages and disruptions on several occasions. Brecht acknowledged the attack in the court and stated that he launched the attack as a revenge for his mother’s financial losses worth €300,000 ($342,000).

The hacker was also an active member of the Anonymous Belgium and Cyber Crew hacking groups, launching attacks aimed at FIFA (The Fédération Internationale de Football Association).

He has also launched DDoS attacks against a pizza outlet, bringing down the restaurant’s website several times and demanding a ransom payment to stop the attacks.

The investigation also revealed that Brecht has exchanged hacking tools via Facebook with a co-conspirator from Bruges. Both the hackers together have involved in many other cyber-attacks.

The verdict

• Brecht has been charged to pay €3,000 ($3,400) to Crelan Bank as compensation for launching DDoS attacks.
• He has also been sentenced to three years in prison for throwing the Molotov cocktail.
• Additionally, he has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for past cyber crimes.