On June 25, 2012, Higinio O. Ochoa, III, a 31-year-old from Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to charges relating to his involvement with the hacker groups known as “Anonymous” and “CabinCr3w.” Ochoa admitted that in February 2012, he illegally accessed computers belonging to various entities, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alabama Department of Public Safety, and the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association.
During his criminal activities, Ochoa unlawfully downloaded sensitive personal information, deleted critical data, defaced websites, and distributed stolen information to others. He openly bragged about his exploits online. As a consequence of his actions, he was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Today, at 45 years old, Ochoa, who is also known as w0rmer, describes himself as a "former hacktivist turned seasoned cybersecurity professional." His impressive resume boasts 20 years of experience in various roles, including ethical hacker, Linux administrator, programmer, and penetration tester. He has also taken on the role of speaker in the cybersecurity community.
Ochoa is currently a member of the white-hat hacker group known as Sakura Samurai. He recently appeared on the Cybercrime Magazine Podcast to share his remarkable journey, discussing his transition from being a target of the FBI to becoming a cybersecurity expert. He also delved into the culture of hacktivism and much more.
