DOJ releases details alleged talented hacker working for the late Jeffrey Epstein

Key Findings

• An FBI informant claimed in 2017 that Jeffrey Epstein had a "personal hacker" who was an Italian born in Calabria.

• The hacker, whose name was redacted, reportedly sold zero-day exploits and offensive cyber tools to several countries, including the U.S. and the U.K.

• He allegedly created a zero-day exploit and sold it to Hezbollah in exchange for a trunk of cash.

• The hacker was known for finding vulnerabilities in iOS, BlackBerry, and Firefox.

• He surrounded himself with powerful friends like Epstein and had three billionaire backers, including Epstein.

• The hacker laundered his earnings through a California theater company.

Background

The details about Epstein's alleged "personal hacker" were revealed in a document released by the Department of Justice (DoJ) as part of the Epstein Files. The accuracy and reliability of the information remain unclear, as the document reflects only the informant's allegations and not FBI findings.

Hacker's Capabilities and Connections

• The hacker was highly skilled at finding zero-day flaws in iOS, BlackBerry, and Firefox, and reportedly created zero-day exploits and offensive cyber tools that he sold to various governments.

• He was known as the first person to hack and find vulnerabilities in BlackBerry and iOS devices.

• The hacker surrounded himself with powerful friends, including billionaires like Epstein, and leveraged his connections to his advantage.

• He had three billionaire backers, including Epstein, who provided the seed money for the hacker's company, which was later acquired by CrowdStrike in 2017.

Alleged Dealings with Hezbollah and Money Laundering

• The FBI informant claimed that the hacker sold a zero-day exploit to Hezbollah in exchange for a trunk of cash.

• The hacker reportedly laundered his earnings through a California theater company.

Implications and Unanswered Questions

• The allegations raise questions about the nature of Epstein's relationship with the hacker and the services the hacker provided.

• If the facts are verified, the hacker may face significant scrutiny from law enforcement regarding his alleged dealings with Epstein and the use of his offensive capabilities.

Sources

• https://securityaffairs.com/187515/laws-and-regulations/doj-releases-details-alleged-talented-hacker-working-for-jeffrey-epstein.html

• https://x.com/shah_sheikh/status/2017679142855098559

• https://x.com/_r_netsec/status/2017798334501818792

• https://x.com/securityaffairs/status/2017675582541025671

• https://www.socdefenders.ai/item/3a3d4128-11a9-4da9-95ab-0f960f61525d