MLT (hacktivist)
{{Short description|British computer hacker (born 1994)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Matthew "MLT" Telfer
| image =
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| other_names =
| years_active = 2006 - Present Day
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1994
| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = British
| education = Northumbria University
| known_for = Former affiliation with TeaMp0isoN
| occupation =
| website =
}}
MLT, real name Matthew Telfer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.com/2018/08/07/openemr_vulnerabilities/|title=Hey, you know what a popular medical record system doesn't need? 23 security vulnerabilities|first=Shaun Nichols in San|last=Francisco|website=www.theregister.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://internetofbusiness.com/critical-security-flaws-found-in-popular-medical-records-software/|title=Critical security flaws found in popular medical records software|first=Andrew|last=Hobbs|date=August 8, 2018}} (born 1994) is a cybersecurity researcher, former grey hat computer hacker and former member of TeaMp0isoN. MLT was arrested in May 2012 in relation to his activities within TeaMp0isoN, a computer-hacking group which claimed responsibility for many high-profile attacks, including website vandalism of the United Nations, Facebook, NATO, BlackBerry, T-Mobile USA and several other large sites in addition to high-profile denial-of-service attacks and leaks of confidential data. After his arrest, he reformed his actions and shifted his focus to activities as a white hat cybersecurity specialist. He was the founder of now-defunct{{Cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11545346|title=PROJECT INSECURITY LTD - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk}} Project Insecurity LTD.{{Cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11545346/officers|title=PROJECT INSECURITY LTD - Officers (free information from Companies House)|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk}}
History
Believed to be the former co-leader and spokesperson of TeaMp0isoN,{{cite web |url= http://www.itv.com/news/topic/teamp0ison/ |title=Teenager arrested accused of computer hacking |publisher=Sky News |date=2012 |access-date= 2017-07-09}} MLT, along with Junaid Hussain and other hackers targeted many large websites and corporations over a two-year period, from 2010 up until 2012 when both individuals were arrested. The group first gained popularity after targeting infamous hacking collective LulzSec, releasing personal information on their members and purporting to have hacked their websites, they then went on to target sites such as NATO, and various government officials from the United Kingdom and United States of America
.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0124116396 |title=Deception in the Digital Age, exploiting and defending human targets |publisher=Cameron H. Malin |date=2017 |access-date=2016-09-20}} The arrests finally came as a result of the probe into the alleged hacking and wiretapping of the British Security Services Anti-Terrorism Hotline.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTjwI2iVF20 |title=TeaMp0isoN Hacks Met Police Anti-Terror Hotline |publisher=Sky News |date=2012 |access-date=2016-09-20}}
MLT was the former hacking partner{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/junaid-hussain-isis-hacker-drone/ |title=How a Teenage Hacker Became the Target of a US Drone Strike |publisher=Vice |date=August 2016 |access-date=2016-09-20}} of Junaid Hussain, who later went on to join ISIS and was killed in a drone strike{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-born-isis-hacker-killed-us-drone-strike-in-syria-kills-junaid-hussain-10474007.html |title=British Born ISIS hacker killed in drone strike |work=The Independent |date=August 2015 |access-date=2016-09-20}} by the US Government after becoming the third highest target on their 'kill list' due to his role in inspiring international lone-wolf terrorism alongside his hacking activities for ISIS under the banner of Islamic State Hacking Division. It was reported by Vice that Junaid Hussain remained in contact with MLT while in Syria, and that he used to occasionally ask for advice relating to hacking or would sometimes even openly boast about his activities within ISIS to MLT.{{cite web |url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1588418.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921084847/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1588418.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2015 |title=British Hacker is No. 3 on Pentagon kill list |publisher=The Sunday Times |date=August 2015 |access-date=2016-09-20}}
Arrest
On 9 May 2012, MLT was arrested in Newcastle upon Tyne by the Metropolitan Police who released a statement saying: "The suspect, who is believed to use the online 'nic' 'MLT', is allegedly a member of and spokesperson for TeaMp0isoN ('TeamPoison')--a group which has claimed responsibility for more than 1,400 offences including denial of service and network intrusions where personal and private information has been illegally extracted from victims in the U.K. and around the world".{{cite web |url=http://www.darkreading.com/attacks-and-breaches/teampoison-hacker-suspect-has-anonymous-ties/d/d-id/1104323? |title=teampoison hacker suspect has anonymous ties |publisher=darkreading.com |date=2012-05-11 |access-date=2016-09-20}}
It was reported that MLT could have faced up to 10 years in prison for the events leading to his arrest.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9257405/Teenager-arrested-over-TeamPoison-hacking-attacks.html |title=teenager arrested over teampoison hacking attacks |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |date=2012-05-10 |access-date=2016-09-20}}
Recent activity
In May 2015, someone purporting to be MLT featured on CNN, speaking to them about Junaid Hussain and claiming that he witnessed him appear on video chat once as a 'black power ranger' while wielding an AK-47.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/06/us/who-is-junaid-hussain-garland-texas-attack/ |title=ISIS jihadi linked to Garland attack has long history as hacker |publisher=CNN |date=May 2015 |access-date=2016-09-20}} In August 2015, MLT featured on Episode 5 of the TV show Viceland Cyberwar where he spoke about subjects ranging from the security of autonomous cars to the death of his former hacking partner.{{cite web |url=https://www.viceland.com/en_us/video/syrias-cyber-battlefields/5786b9a4914084e32a41b545 |title=Cyberwar: Syria's Cyber Battlefields |publisher=Viceland |date=August 2015 |access-date=2016-09-20}}{{cite web |url=https://www.viceland.com/en_us/video/mlt-on-the-future-of-hacking/57a0f00e790fa88a29be163b |title=MLT on the Future of Hacking |publisher=Viceland |date=August 2015 |access-date=2016-09-20}}
In 2016, Matthew identified and reported vulnerabilities to eBay{{cite web |url=https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/01/13/ebay-xss-bug-left-users-vulnerable-to-almost-undetectable-phishing-attacks/ |title=eBay XSS bug left users vulnerable to (almost) undetectable phishing attacks |publisher=Sophos |date=January 2016 |access-date=2016-09-20}} and the U.S. Department of Defense.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/researcher-finds-several-serious-vulnerabilities-in-us-military-websites/ |title=Researcher Finds Several 'Serious' Vulnerabilities in US Military Websites |publisher=Vice |date=January 2016 |access-date=2016-09-20}} He has stated that he avoids illegal activities and instead dedicates his time to participating in bug bounty programs.{{cite web |url=http://securityaffairs.co/wordpress/49735/hacking/teamp0ison-member-interview.html |title=TeaMp0isoN member interview |publisher=Security Affairs |date=August 2016 |access-date=2016-09-20}}
In 2022, [https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/109/ MLT appeared as a guest] on Darknet Diaries. In this episode the history of TeaMp0isoN and some of the high profile hacks that MLT undertook are discussed, as well as the relationship between MLT and Junaid Hussain.
Currently MLT works as a bug bounty hunter as well as a zero-day exploit developer. He also operates a private exploit research and development team named "Bug0xF4" (pronounced "BugHalt").{{cite web |url=https://youtube.com/@bug0xf4?si=TxrcHSIraciX5mqU|title=Bug0xF4 YouTub|publisher=telegraph.co.uk |date=2014-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-12}}
Career
Matthew was the founder and chief executive officer of now-defunct Project Insecurity LTD, an exploit research group and educational platform.
References
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{{Hacking in the 2010s}}
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