Russian hacker indicted for cracking LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Formspring

OAKLAND, CA – A federal grand jury in Oakland indicted Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich Nikulin yesterday for obtaining information from computers, causing damage to computers, trafficking in access devices, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.

The indictment, unsealed today, alleges that Nikulin, 29, of Moscow, Russia, accessed computers belonging to LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Formspring, each of which has its headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area. The indictment further alleges that the defendant accessed the computers without authorization and that he obtained information from the computers. According to the indictment, the defendant also caused damage to computers belonging to a LinkedIn employee and to Formspring by transmitting a program, information, code, or command. Nikulin also is alleged to have used the credentials of LinkedIn and Formspring employees in connection with the computer intrusions. Further, Nikulin is alleged to have engaged in a conspiracy with unnamed co-conspirators to traffic stolen Formspring user credentials.

In all, Nikulin is charged with three counts of computer intrusion; two counts of intentional transmission of information, code, or command causing damage to a protected computer; two counts of aggravated identity theft; one count of trafficking in unauthorized access devices; and one count of conspiracy.

Defendant was arrested on October 5, 2016, by officials in the Czech Republic pursuant to a provisional arrest request based on the warrant issued in connection with the complaint. He remains in custody in Prague.