Google Under Hacker Threat: Who Are Austin Larsen and Charles Carmakal?

Hackers, known as Scattered LapSus Hunters, are threatening Google, demanding it fire two employees and stop network probes. The group is linked to well-known hacker networks like Scattered Spider and LapSus. This comes after a Salesforce breach exposed business contact information, which hackers used to make phishing attempts, prompting Google to send a global security alert and tell users to change their passwords.

In a recent development, a group of hackers known as Scattered LapSus Hunters has threatened to leak Google databases unless the tech giant fires two employees and halts network probes. The group, which is linked to well-known hacker networks like Scattered Spider and LapSus, has demanded the dismissal of Austin Larsen and Charles Carmakal, both employees of the Google Threat Intelligence Group [1].

The hackers, claiming to have access to Google databases, have not provided any concrete evidence to support their claims. However, the threat comes on the heels of a significant data breach involving Google's Salesforce systems, which exposed business contact information. This breach has been linked to phishing attempts, prompting Google to issue a global security alert and advise users to change their passwords [2].

Google has yet to comment on the hackers' demands. However, the company has taken several defensive measures in response to the breach, including revoking compromised tokens, disabling integrations with Drift Email, and promoting the use of passkeys to enhance security. The incident underscores the ongoing tension between Google's insistence on the integrity of its core systems and the potential for broader fraud and cybersecurity threats [2].

This development highlights the growing sophistication of cyber threats and the need for robust security measures. As the investigation into the breach continues, investors and financial professionals should closely monitor the situation for any potential impacts on Google's operations and stock performance.

References:
[1] https://www.newsweek.com/hackers-issue-ultimatum-data-breach-2122489
[2] https://the420.in/google-gmail-data-breach-global-alert-phishing-scams/