Michigan hacker pleaded guilty for hacking jail computer network to get friend released early

“A friend in need is a friend indeed” turned out to be a nightmare for a Michigan man. Konrads Voits from Ann Arbor, Michigan did something really crazy that only a true friend can do. The Michigan hacker hacked into the government computer system of Washtenaw County Jail to alter inmate records and gain early release for his friend. But things did not work as Konrads wanted them to, and instead, got backfired when jail employees detected changes in their records and informed the FBI.

The 27-year-old Michigan hacker pwned the Washtenaw County government computer system using malware, phishing, and social engineering tricks. According to the FBI, right from January 24, 2017, and until March 10, 2017, Konrads used email spear-phishing and telephone social-engineering to trick Washtenaw County Jail employees into downloading and running malware on their computers by visiting a bogus website at "ewashtenavv.org," which was a copy of the Washtenaw official URL, "ewashtenaw.org."

After the installation of the malware, the Michigan hacker was able to gain full access to the County network, including access to sensitive records such as search warrant affidavits, internal discipline records, passwords, usernames, emails, and other personal information of over 1,600 County employees.

After pleading guilty by the federal court, Konrads Voits is now facing up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Voits had to give up all his electronics equipment which includes his laptop, four phones, one circuit board, and an undisclosed amount of Bitcoin.