Aubrey Cottle, a 37-year-old Canadian, was arrested in Ontario for allegedly hacking into the Texas Republican Party’s systems. The U.S. Justice Department unsealed a complaint detailing how Cottle gained unauthorized access to Epik, a hosting company used by the party. Cottle allegedly downloaded a backup of the Texas Grand Old Party’s web server, which contained sensitive personal information, and made it publicly available online. He reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack on social media platforms like Discord and TikTok, taking credit for the breach.
Known online as “Kirtaner,” Cottle is a prominent hacker and a member of the Anonymous collective.
Authorities claim that he defaced the Texas Republican Party website in 2021, arguing that the attack was in response to Texas’ newly instituted abortion law. The breach resulted in the creation of a now-defunct website that hosted decades of data stolen from Epik. Cottle’s alleged actions targeted conservative organizations, and he has previously admitted involvement in various high-profile hacks against other entities.
Following Cottle’s arrest, Canadian police reportedly seized 20 terabytes of stolen data from his devices.
The investigation, led by the FBI Austin Cyber Task Force, has received valuable assistance from Ontario Provincial Police and Durham Regional Police Service. Cottle faces serious federal charges for unlawfully transferring, possessing, or using identifying information with intent to commit unlawful activities. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison, as outlined in the criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Texas.
Cottle has a history of targeting organizations aligned with conservative causes. In 2022, Canadian police raided his home after he openly boasted about several hacks targeting groups like GiveSendGo and the Freedom Convoy 2022 campaign. Despite his previous acknowledgment of working with the FBI, Cottle’s hacking activities continue to attract significant attention. The Justice Department has emphasized that the charges against him are merely allegations, and Cottle is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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