GhostShell was believed to be hacking sites just to prove any website was hackable while publicly mocking security firms like Trend Micro and Booz Allen Hamilton. The hacker who is the man behind hundreds of hacks that led to the disclosure of millions of personal records has been active since early 2012. GhostShell came into the limelight in 2012, hacking crucial data related to the US and Russian intelligence agencies, but almost disappeared for about three years after that. In 2015, the group announced its comeback with a much darker version that is bent on leaking information through its “dark hacktivism” campaign. The Romanian sent a series of emails and some additional text correspondence to a group of international cyber security journalists from Wired, The Telegraph, The Atlantic and others. He provided the journalists with proof that he was indeed the man behind Team GhostShell, including login data from several platforms the hacker collective have used in recent years. Bryan Clark of TheNextWeb.com, who was contacted by the hacker by email has published the same as shown below: “My name is Eugen Razvan G and I am the man behind the pseudonym Team Ghostshell. I’m Ghostshell. Although over the years I’ve been told in many ways. Some of you who have written about me, you know that DeadMellox. It is correct, except that it was an identity created to help me to know the people who follow me, including the FBI. I think you remember the fiasco Flashpoint or Whitefox Project. Finally, I am 24 years old, born on August 16, 1991 in Bucharest, Romania. Although frequent travelers, still live here. Stand about 15 minutes from the largest building in Europe, the People’s House. Prior to founding Team Ghostshell, I was part of another network by hackers, MalSec. I set up a former member of LulzSec, who was never caught on AnonOps network in early 2012. We drove all hacking operations, and he handles relations with the media. I had a conflict with him, because I suspected that it was the FBI and we parted. I took with me all the time hackers whom they recruit and personal trainers. He kept the rest. Others left.” However, the claim of Romanian hacker cannot be verified. “Overall, we can’t with 100 percent certainty say that Eugen’s claims are correct and that he is indeed GhostShell, but the case is pretty compelling,” Bryan Clark wrote. When asked why after all this while he chose to reveal his identity knowing the legal consequences he can face. Apparently, Eugen wants to clear out his act and inspire others into doing so. He said, “I just want to own up to my actions, face them head on and hope for the best. What I really want is to continue being part of this industry. Cybersecurity is something that I enjoy to the fullest even with all the drama that it brings and legal troubles. In return I hope other hackers and hacktivists take inspiration from this example and try to better themselves. Just because you’ve explored parts of the internet and protested about things that were important to you doesn’t mean you should be afraid and constantly paranoid of the people around you.” Like some of his acquaintances in the hacking elite, the hacker is even willing to go to prison but on his own terms and after he tells his story to the world, according to TheNextWeb.com. GhostShell, which is one of the most active yet still at large hackers is literally hoping to get arrested and reach a plea deal to provide his services for good, just for the chance at a legitimate job in the field of cyber-security.
