HBO Max's New Series Explores Life of Notorious Finnish Hacker Julius Kivimäki
A new documentary series on HBO Max explores the life of Julius Kivimäki, a notorious Finnish hacker. The series, directed by Sami Kieski and co-written by Joni Soila, premieres in September 2024. It delves into Kivimäki's cybercrimes, including a high-profile case where he targeted the Vastaamo Psychotherapy Center and leaked patient records.
Kivimäki's hacking activities began at the age of 14 when he joined a group compromising websites for payment card data and harassing targets. In 2014, he gained infamy as part of the Lizard Squad, launching a DDoS attack against Sony Playstation and Xbox Live platforms. The same year, Finnish investigators linked him to a bomb threat against John Smedley, grounding an American Airlines plane.
In 2015, Kivimäki was convicted of over 50,000 cybercrimes. Despite the severity of his actions, he received a lenient sentence due to his age. Five years later, he targeted the Vastaamo Psychotherapy Center, leaking patient records and extorting victims. He was arrested in France in 2023 and later sentenced to over six years in prison for these crimes.
The documentary series promises to provide insights into Kivimäki's motivations and methods, featuring interviews with the author. It serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of cybercrime and the importance of robust digital security.
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