2-11-2023 (BAGKOK) Thai police have arrested a hacker believed to have breached the security of over 100 government websites in the border district of Mae Sai in Chiang Rai.
The suspect, identified as Warakorn, was apprehended while attempting to cross into Myanmar, according to Pol Col Niphaphon Sukniyom, the superintendent of Metropolitan Police Division 8 in Bangkok.
Pol Col Niphaphon revealed that the hacker had infiltrated multiple government websites, using them as the primary domain for operating his illicit websites. Typically, illegal websites are automatically excluded from Google search results, whereas government agency websites are usually among the first results.
By gaining access to the websites of government agencies, the hacker exploited their prominence to promote illegal websites. These illegal links not only harmed the agencies but also caused confusion among the public, Pol Col Niphaphon noted.
Furthermore, the investigation discovered that the suspect had opened bank accounts to receive payments from the criminal groups that hired him to hack into the websites.
Mr. Warakorn is currently in custody for further questioning. The police have advised state agencies to regularly check their websites, particularly those that have been inactive for an extended period, for any signs of suspicious access.
If a website displays illegal advertisements, it may have been hacked. Agencies are encouraged to promptly address the issue or notify the authorities, according to Pol Col Niphaphon.
