plugwalkjoe

Joseph James O'Connor, known online as PlugwalkJoe, was a notorious threat actor from the United Kingdom who specialized in SIM-swapping to hijack online identities. His most infamous crime involved the hacking of over 130 Twitter accounts in July 2020, which included high-profile figures such as Apple, Binance, Bill Gates, Joe Biden, and Elon Musk. The purpose of these attacks was to propagate cryptocurrency scams. In addition to this, he also intruded into the Snapchat accounts of several female celebrities, threatening to disclose their private photos. O'Connor was apprehended in Spain in July 2021 at the behest of the FBI. After being extradited to the US in April 2023, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges including computer intrusion, extortion, stalking, wire fraud, and money laundering. These offenses carried a potential cumulative sentence of over 70 years. O'Connor expressed remorse for his actions in court, labeling them as "stupid and pointless" and offering apologies to his victims. In June 2023, O'Connor received a five-year prison sentence for his cybercrime offenses. Despite the severity of his crimes, his sentencing marked a significant victory for cybersecurity efforts worldwide. As PlugwalkJoe, O'Connor's activities had caused substantial disruption and damage, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by threat actors in the digital age. His conviction underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime and the necessity of robust cybersecurity measures.