Finnish Man on Trial for Alleged Role in 2020 Vastaamo Data Breach
A 26-year-old Finnish man, Julius Kivimäki, is currently on trial for his alleged role in the 2020 Vastaamo Psychotherapy Center data breach. Kivimäki, who went by the handle 'Ransom Man', is accused of extorting the center and its patients, demanding a six-figure ransom and threatening to publish sensitive patient data.
The prosecution's case has been bolstered by evidence linking Kivimäki's credit card to a virtual server hosting the stolen Vastaamo patient data. Petteri Järvinen, an IT expert, has commended the prosecution's strong case so far. Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at WithSecure, has also praised the Finnish authorities' work in the case.
Kivimäki's alleged involvement was further exposed when 'Ransom Man' uploaded all stolen Vastaamo patient records to the dark web, including a copy of their home folder with clues pointing to Kivimäki's involvement. The records included notes from a Norwegian bank IT head and an Oklahoma man, suggesting Kivimäki operated domains to smear reputations.
Kivimäki was previously convicted in 2015 for tens of thousands of cybercrimes, including data breaches and operating a botnet. He was charged in absentia for the Vastaamo hack and arrested in France in February 2023.
Kivimäki's trial continues, with the prosecution presenting a strong case against him. His alleged involvement in the Vastaamo hack and extortion has serious implications for data privacy and cybersecurity. The outcome of the trial is eagerly awaited.
