Matthew "MLT" Telfer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994 (age 30–31) |
| Education | Northumbria University |
| Years active | 2006 - Present Day[1] |
| Known for | Former affiliation withTeaMp0isoN |
MLT, real nameMatthew Telfer,[2][3] (born 1994) is acybersecurity researcher, formergrey hatcomputer hacker and former member ofTeaMp0isoN. MLT was arrested in May 2012 in relation to his activities within TeaMp0isoN, a computer-hacking group which claimed responsibility for many high-profile attacks, including website vandalism of theUnited Nations,Facebook,NATO,BlackBerry,T-Mobile USA and several other large sites in addition to high-profiledenial-of-service attacks and leaks of confidential data. After his arrest, he reformed his actions and shifted his focus to activities as awhite hat cybersecurity specialist. He was the founder of now-defunct[4]Project Insecurity LTD.[5]
Believed to be the former co-leader and spokesperson ofTeaMp0isoN,[6] MLT, along withJunaid Hussain and other hackers targeted many large websites and corporations over a two-year period, from 2010 up until 2012 when both individuals were arrested. The group first gained popularity after targeting infamous hacking collectiveLulzSec, releasing personal information on their members and purporting to have hacked their websites, they then went on to target sites such as NATO, and various government officials from the United Kingdom and United States of America.[7] The arrests finally came as a result of the probe into the alleged hacking and wiretapping of the British Security Services Anti-Terrorism Hotline.[8]
MLT was the former hacking partner[9] ofJunaid Hussain, who later went on to joinISIS and was killed in adrone strike[10] by the US Government after becoming the third highest target on their 'kill list' due to his role in inspiring international lone-wolf terrorism alongside his hacking activities forISIS under the banner ofIslamic State Hacking Division. It was reported byVice that Junaid Hussain remained in contact with MLT while in Syria, and that he used to occasionally ask for advice relating to hacking or would sometimes even openly boast about his activities within ISIS to MLT.[11]
On 9 May 2012, MLT was arrested in Newcastle upon Tyne by theMetropolitan Police who released a statement saying: "The suspect, who is believed to use the online 'nic' 'MLT', is allegedly a member of and spokesperson for TeaMp0isoN ('TeamPoison')--a group which has claimed responsibility for more than 1,400 offences including denial of service and network intrusions where personal and private information has been illegally extracted from victims in the U.K. and around the world".[12]
It was reported that MLT could have faced up to 10 years in prison for the events leading to his arrest.[13]
In May 2015, someone purporting to be MLT featured onCNN, speaking to them about Junaid Hussain and claiming that he witnessed him appear on video chat once as a 'black power ranger' while wielding anAK-47.[14] In August 2015, MLT featured on Episode 5 of the TV showVicelandCyberwar where he spoke about subjects ranging from the security ofautonomous cars to the death of his former hacking partner.[15][16]
In 2016, Matthew identified and reported vulnerabilities toeBay[17] and theU.S. Department of Defense.[18] He has stated that he avoids illegal activities and instead dedicates his time to participating inbug bounty programs.[1]
In 2022,MLT appeared as a guest onDarknet Diaries. In this episode the history of TeaMp0isoN and some of the high profile hacks that MLT undertook are discussed, as well as the relationship between MLT andJunaid Hussain.
Currently MLT works as abug bounty hunter as well as azero-day exploit developer. He also operates a private exploit research and development team named "Bug0xF4" (pronounced "BugHalt").[19]
Matthew was the founder and chief executive officer of now-defunctProject Insecurity LTD, an exploit research group and educational platform.