Ukrainian Authorities Arrest Members of Phoenix Hacker Group

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced the arrest of five members of the international hacker group Phoenix, which specialized in remotely hacking mobile devices and collecting personal data.

According to law enforcement, the group consisted of five Ukrainian citizens from Kyiv and Kharkiv, all of whom had higher technical education. The group had been active for at least two years, during which time the hackers managed to compromise the accounts of several hundred individuals.

The main goal of the Phoenix hacker group was to gain remote access to user accounts on mobile devices and then monetize this access by hacking into electronic wallets and bank accounts, as well as selling victims’ personal information to third parties.

To access victims’ accounts, the hackers used phishing sites—fake copies of websites such as Apple and Samsung. If a victim downloaded an app from one of these fake sites, they would have to provide their login credentials to the attackers. The hackers would then copy the information stored on the compromised phone.

The group also offered remote hacking services for mobile phones, charging between $100 and $200 per job. Additionally, they unlocked stolen or lost Apple devices, which were later sold in stores controlled by the criminals in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

As a result, law enforcement conducted five searches at the locations where the suspects were detained, seizing computer equipment, mobile phones prepared for sale, specialized software, and other equipment.

The suspects have been charged under Article 361 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal interference with the operation of electronic computers, systems, and computer networks).