Finland’s Notorious Hacker Sentenced: 33,000 Patients Blackmailed

A notorious hacker, Julius Kivimäki, known as Zeekill, has been sentenced to prison for blackmailing 33,000 therapy patients with their stolen session notes. This marked the end of his 11-year cyber-crime spree that began when he was just 13, rising to prominence in a network of teenage hacking gangs.

The victims, including Tiina Parikka, received polite yet menacing emails demanding ransom within 24 hours, threatening to publish their deeply personal therapy records if not paid. The breach, involving the Vastaamo psychotherapy center, shocked Finland, causing widespread distress and even leading to tragic outcomes such as suicides among affected individuals and their families.

Kivimäki’s history of cyber-crime, including attacks on gaming platforms and numerous hacking offenses, had made him infamous. Despite a suspended sentence for previous crimes, he continued his activities, eventually being linked to the Vastaamo attack.

After a lengthy investigation, Kivimäki was apprehended in Paris, living under a false identity. His trial in Finland, one of the country’s largest, saw overwhelming evidence against him, including forensic techniques linking him to the crime scene. He was found guilty of thousands of charges and sentenced to over six years in prison.

Despite the verdict, victims like Tiina feel that the sentence isn’t enough to compensate for the harm caused. Some are pursuing civil cases against Kivimäki or Vastaamo, while discussions about legal reforms to address future mass hack cases are ongoing. The incident has highlighted the need for better preparedness and legal frameworks to handle such large-scale cybercrimes in Finland.

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