A man from Kentucky, Jesse Kipf, was sentenced to nearly 7 years in prison for hacking state systems to fake his death in order to evade child support payments. He accessed the Hawaii Death Registry System with stolen credentials and also infiltrated other state and private business networks, attempting to sell access on the dark web. Kipf’s actions caused $195,758.65 in damages to governmental and corporate computer systems. He was sentenced to 81 months in prison, with a mandate to serve 85% of his term and be under supervision upon release. The U.S. Attorney in Kentucky warned of the destructive impact of cybercriminals and stressed the importance of online security. The FBI condemned Kipf’s identity theft and vowed to pursue those engaging in such behavior. In response to a recent data breach exposing millions of Americans’ personal information, experts advise monitoring credit reports, freezing accounts, and taking prompt action if identity theft is suspected. The Justice Department recommends placing fraud alerts on credit reports, closing compromised accounts, and filing a police report. Victims should keep detailed records for investigations and communication with credit bureaus. For further information, readers can contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com.
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