A young hacker caused a stir in Mallorca by manipulating the online booking system of the Immigration Office. The 24-year-old Moroccan was arrested by the national police in Manacor after he hijacked the system and sold appointments to desperate applicants, reports isla magazine.
Residents of Mallorca and other foreigners who rely on the authority's services are often faced with the problem that there are hardly any appointments available. The hacker exploited this desperation by using a bot that blocked the system and reserved all available appointments. He then offered these reserved appointments for sale for between 50 and 100 euros, depending on the urgency of the customer's request.
The situation came to light when those affected complained to the police that they were unable to access the appointments, which are normally free of charge. A special unit then took action and was able to identify and ultimately arrest the hacker, who called himself "Samurai" online.
During a search of his home, the police found computer equipment as well as substantial sums of cash, which apparently came from the sale of the illegally acquired dates. The swift action of the authorities prevented further failures in the booking system and restored its proper functioning.
The incident has triggered a broad discussion about the security of online services provided by public institutions. Many citizens are now calling for improved measures to prevent such attacks in the future. The hacker was released after his arrest and a brief court hearing in which he made no statement, but remains under observation by the authorities.
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