Threats · 6h ago
Dutch police arrested 23-year-old Pepijn van der Stap on suspicion of aiding ShinyHunters, and the group escalated almost immediately after, according to KrebsOnSecurity. In the days after the arrest, remaining members allegedly stole highly sensitive FBI data and began extorting the Russian ransomware group Cl0p.
The point is what the arrest did not stop. If ShinyHunters still has access to stolen datasets, taking one suspect into custody does not remove the material the group can still leak, trade, or use as leverage; the pressure can shift from theft to extortion with little delay.
For government and law-enforcement-adjacent targets, the case sits in the space between disruption and blowback: a takedown can be followed by a sharper campaign if other members retain access, contacts, or data already in hand.
2 sources covering this story
Dutch police confirm arrest in ShinyHunters hacking investigation
Dutch police have confirmed that a 24-year-old Amsterdam man arrested earlier this month was detained as part of an investigation into the ShinyHunters hacking group.
Dutch Police Arrest ‘Reformed’ Hacker in Shiny Hunters Investigation
Authorities in the Netherlands have arrested a 23-year-old convicted cybercriminal on suspicion of aiding in data thefts and extortions by the prolific hacker group ShinyHunters.
Part of the PlainSec briefing for 2026-09-28