Supreme Court Hacker Posted Stolen Government Data On Instagram (techcrunch.com)
(Friday January 16, 2026 @10:30PM (BeauHD)
from the IG-is-the-new-WikiLeaks dept.)
- Reference: 0180602666
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/16/2128242/supreme-court-hacker-posted-stolen-government-data-on-instagram
- Source link: https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/16/supreme-court-hacker-posted-stolen-government-data-on-instagram/
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch:
> Last week, Nicholas Moore, 24, a resident of Springfield, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to [1]repeatedly hacking into the U.S. Supreme Court's electronic document filing system. At the time, there were no details about the specifics of the hacking crimes Moore was admitting to. On Friday, a [2]newly filled document -- first spotted by [3]Court Watch's Seamus Hughes -- revealed more details about Moore's hacks. Per the filing, Moore hacked not only into the Supreme Court systems, but also the network of AmeriCorps, a government agency that runs stipend volunteer programs, and the systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides healthcare and welfare to military veterans.
>
> Moore accessed those systems using stolen credentials of users who were authorized to access them. Once he gained access to those victims' accounts, Moore accessed and stole their personal data and [4]posted some online to his Instagram account: @ihackthegovernment . In the case of the Supreme Court victim, identified as GS, Moore posted their name and "current and past electronic filing records." [...] According to the court document, Moore faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.
[1] https://abovethelaw.com/2026/01/supreme-court-hacked-proving-its-cybersecurity-is-as-robust-as-its-ethical-code/
[2] https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26490733-usa-v-moore-doc-8/
[3] https://x.com/SeamusHughes/status/2012200041461481851
[4] https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/16/supreme-court-hacker-posted-stolen-government-data-on-instagram/
> Last week, Nicholas Moore, 24, a resident of Springfield, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to [1]repeatedly hacking into the U.S. Supreme Court's electronic document filing system. At the time, there were no details about the specifics of the hacking crimes Moore was admitting to. On Friday, a [2]newly filled document -- first spotted by [3]Court Watch's Seamus Hughes -- revealed more details about Moore's hacks. Per the filing, Moore hacked not only into the Supreme Court systems, but also the network of AmeriCorps, a government agency that runs stipend volunteer programs, and the systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides healthcare and welfare to military veterans.
>
> Moore accessed those systems using stolen credentials of users who were authorized to access them. Once he gained access to those victims' accounts, Moore accessed and stole their personal data and [4]posted some online to his Instagram account: @ihackthegovernment . In the case of the Supreme Court victim, identified as GS, Moore posted their name and "current and past electronic filing records." [...] According to the court document, Moore faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.
[1] https://abovethelaw.com/2026/01/supreme-court-hacked-proving-its-cybersecurity-is-as-robust-as-its-ethical-code/
[2] https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26490733-usa-v-moore-doc-8/
[3] https://x.com/SeamusHughes/status/2012200041461481851
[4] https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/16/supreme-court-hacker-posted-stolen-government-data-on-instagram/
Supreme Court Hacker :o (Score:4, Insightful)
by Mirnotoriety ( 10462951 )
Dear slashdot headline writers: Accessing systems using stolen credentials is not hacking!
Re: (Score:2)
by machineghost ( 622031 )
I mean it depends, doesn't it ... on how he acquired the stolen credentials?
Re: (Score:2)
by BoogieChile ( 517082 )
As we nerds learned a long time ago, it matters more *whose* credentials you stole. Some secretary? Boys will be boys. C-level, or worse, a *campaign donor*? You better believe that boy's the living embodiment of that notorious hacker mastermind and evil genius, Four Chan.
Re: (Score:2)
by Mr. Dollar Ton ( 5495648 )
How do you acquire credentials?
Like Mitnick, with "social engineering". Made easier now with all those anonymous social networks.
Sure punish him (Score:2)
By forcing him to secure the government systems! Then release him that should be punishment enough.