Notorious Hacker ‘IntelBroker’ Arrested

Uploaded on 2025-06-28 in TECHNOLOGY--Hackers, GOVERNMENT-Law Enforcement, FREE TO VIEW

A 25-year-old British man named Kai West has been charged by US authorities for allegedly operating under the alias "IntelBroker," a notorious figure in the cybercrime world responsible for a series of high-profile data breaches. Arrested in France in February.

West now faces extradition to the United States, where he is accused of orchestrating cyber attacks that caused over £18 million in damages worldwide.

Alleged Leader of Cybercrime Kingpin

US federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have indicted West on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, wire fraud, and accessing protected computers to obtain information. Operating under the pseudonyms "IntelBroker" and "Kyle Northern," West is alleged to have led a hacking group known as "The Boys," targeting over 40 organisations, including major corporations and a US healthcare provider.

West’s activities, spanning from December 2022 to February 2025, involved infiltrating secure networks to steal sensitive data, such as customer lists and patient information, which was then sold or distributed for free on dark web forums, primarily BreachForums.

Prosecutors claim West offered stolen data for sale 41 times and shared it for free or forum credits in 117 instances between 2023 and 2025, causing an estimated $25 million (£18.2 million) in damages.

High-Profile Targets & BreachForums Connection

IntelBroker gained notoriety for claiming responsibility for breaches at major organisations, including Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Europol, and Facebook Marketplace, though some claims were reportedly exaggerated. A significant breach in March 2023 targeted DC Health Link, a health insurance marketplace used by members of the US Congress, exposing sensitive personal data.

West allegedly operated as an administrator of BreachForums, a prominent cybercrime marketplace, between August 2024 and January 2025.

The forum, described as an "Amazon for hackers," facilitated the sale and extortion of stolen data. French authorities arrested four other suspected BreachForums administrators in Paris last week, marking a broader crackdown on the platform.

FBI’s Bitcoin Operation

West’s downfall came through a critical error in his operational security. Known for using Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency, IntelBroker was lured into accepting a $250 Bitcoin payment from an undercover FBI agent for stolen data. This transaction, traced to an account linked to West, helped investigators confirm his identity.

Additional evidence included IP address overlaps and YouTube videos watched by West that were later posted by IntelBroker on BreachForums.

Previous Criminal Activities

West’s alleged criminal history extends beyond cybercrime. In 2018, at the age of 18, he was reportedly arrested by UK police for orchestrating hoax bomb threats targeting thousands of schools. This earlier incident suggests a pattern of disruptive behaviour predating his activities as IntelBroker.

Facing Severe Penalties

Currently detained in France, West awaits extradition to the US, where he faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and five years for hacking-related offences. US Attorney Jay Clayton described the IntelBroker alias as responsible for "millions in damages to victims around the world," underscoring the FBI’s commitment to pursuing cybercriminals globally.

FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia called West a "serial hacker" whose actions profited millions in illicit funds. The case highlights international cooperation between US and French authorities, with the latter’s arrests of BreachForums operators signaling a robust response to cybercrime networks.

The arrest of West and other BreachForums operators marks a significant milestone in combating global cybercrime.

Ensar Seker, chief information security officer at SOCRadar, described the apprehension as a "significant milestone" in disrupting a resilient cybercrime marketplace. However, experts note that while IntelBroker’s claims were sometimes overstated, the scale of the operation underscores the persistent threat of data breaches to organisations worldwide.

As West’s extradition approachess, the case serves is a warning to cybercriminals that law enforcement agencies are increasingly adept at tracking and prosecuting those hiding behind online aliases. The takedown of IntelBroker and the continued targeting of platforms like BreachForums reflect a global effort to curb the growing menace of cybercrime.

Image: Ideogram

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