A recent investigation by Group-IB has shed light on a notorious cybercriminal operating under multiple aliases, including ALTDOS, DESORDEN, GHOSTR, and 0mid16B.
This individual was responsible for over 90 data breaches globally, primarily targeting companies in Asia and other regions.
The threat actor’s modus operandi involved compromising internet-facing Windows servers, exfiltrating sensitive data, and extorting victims through ransom demands.
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If victims refused to comply, the stolen data was sold on dark web forums or publicly exposed, leading to significant financial and reputational losses for the affected companies.
Evolution of the Threat Actor
The threat actor first emerged as ALTDOS in December 2020, announcing a high-profile attack on a Thai financial institution.
ALTDOS demanded a ransom of 170 BTC, valued at over $3 million at the time, and publicly dumped the stolen data when the demand was not met.
Over time, ALTDOS transitioned to selling breached data on platforms like RaidForums, where he gained attention under the alias “altdos.”
However, he ceased operations in September 2021 and re-emerged as DESORDEN, a move likely intended to rebrand himself as a more formidable figure in the cybercrime ecosystem.
As DESORDEN, the threat actor continued to target Asian companies, refining his tactics and expanding his reach.
He collaborated briefly with other notable figures on BreachForums but ultimately preferred to operate alone.
DESORDEN’s activities were halted after a scam report led to his ban from BreachForums, prompting him to reinvent himself once more.
This time, he emerged as GHOSTR, quickly amassing nearly 30 victims across Asia and Canada.
GHOSTR’s operational similarities to DESORDEN, including the use of Tox and Matrix for communication, strongly suggested that GHOSTR was another alias of the same individual.
Arrest
The threat actor’s activities under these aliases came to an end with his arrest on February 26, 2025, in a joint operation by the Royal Thai Police and the Singapore Police Force.
Throughout his operations, the threat actor demonstrated a consistent pattern of using SQL injection tools and exploiting vulnerable web servers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
His ability to adapt and change identities allowed him to evade detection for several years, but ultimately, his tactics and communication methods led to his exposure.
The investigation highlights the importance of tracking and analyzing the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of cybercriminals to prevent future breaches.
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