Let’s talk about something that popped up in my news feed this week — a hacker who wasn’t just dabbling for thrills or attention but turned cybercrime into a repeat hobby. The kind of guy who keeps coming back to the same crime scene, just with a new disguise each time.
This isn’t a story about a one-time mistake or even a passionate teenager poking around where they shouldn’t. It’s about someone who kept going — even after getting caught, even after being told (multiple times) to knock it off.
Here’s what went down.
Meet the Serial Hacker
The person at the center of this story is a 32-year-old man named Corwin Serrette. His résumé? Not the kind you’d hand over to a recruiter. We’re talking website defacement, credential theft, ransomware, and hijacking email and cloud accounts to scam people and businesses out of money.
He wasn’t just targeting individuals either. He went after schools, companies, government organizations — basically anyone with a login and some digital vulnerability.
And here’s the kicker: this wasn’t his first rodeo. He’d already been arrested and convicted for similar cybercrimes in the past. But once he got out? Right back at it like nothing had happened.
“But Why Keep Doing It?”
That’s the question I kept asking myself. It’s like getting kicked out of a store for shoplifting, then sneaking right back in five minutes later — except now you’ve also hacked the store’s online system to open the registers remotely.
His motives weren’t always money (though, sure, scamming people was on the menu). Sometimes it was clout. Other times, it just seemed like he enjoyed the power and control.
He didn’t just exploit systems — he mocked people. After breaking into accounts, he’d taunt the victims or try to siphon sensitive data, even going so far as to impersonate CEOs and other high-ranking employees.
The creepy part? He was good at it.
How He Finally Got Caught
Even skilled hackers leave breadcrumbs — especially when they get cocky. Corwin made a mistake that tied a Gmail account he used during a scam to his real identity.
From there, it didn’t take long for investigators to piece things together. FBI agents eventually arrested him, and in early 2024, he was sentenced to over four years in federal prison.
You’d think someone with that kind of background would know better than to leave a digital trail. But as it turns out, being clever isn’t always enough when law enforcement is more patient than you are persistent.
What We Can Learn From This
Look, most of us aren’t running ransomware schemes in our free time. But stories like this are reminders that cybersecurity isn’t just about tech specs — it’s also about what we humans do (or don’t do) with our digital lives.
Some things to keep in mind:
– Use unique, strong passwords. Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, it matters.
– Don’t trust emails or texts just because they “look legit.” Hackers are great at impersonation.
– Keep your software updated. Old security holes are open invitations.
– If you run a business, invest in staff cybersecurity training. People are often the weakest link.
And finally — if someone tells you the internet isn’t dangerous, kindly show them this story.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to forget there are real people behind keyboard crimes — both the victims and the perpetrators. What stands out in Corwin’s case is how often he got second chances — and how he kept throwing them away.
Cybercrime isn’t abstract or far away. It’s happening to everyday people, schools, nonprofits, and small businesses. The more aware we are, the better we can protect what matters.
So no, this isn’t just another hacker story. It’s a reminder that recklessness in the digital world has real-world consequences — eventually, even for the ones who think they’ll never get caught.
Original article: Read More Here
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