A 18-year-old from a small town in Alicante, Spain, caused “chaos” after hacking multiple government agencies, ministries, and companies, even accessing NATO’s database. The young hacker was arrested on Tuesday for infiltrating public and private sector computer systems, including the Ministry of Defense, the Spanish Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports, various Spanish universities, NATO, the U.S. military, and even the Spanish police.

Hacked NATO and the Ministry of Defense ‘Just for Fun’

According to a press release from the Spanish police, the suspect accessed dark web forums and used advanced techniques to break into sensitive databases. Authorities seized cryptocurrencies and various computer devices, which are now being analyzed by cybersecurity experts. Investigators do not rule out his involvement in other cybercrimes.

The suspect used aliases to avoid detection and prevent authorities from linking him to the attacks. During a house search, police discovered over 50 cryptocurrency accounts with various digital assets, showcasing his extensive knowledge of blockchain technology.

Once inside secured databases containing personal information of employees and clients, as well as internal documents, the hacker allegedly sold or leaked the data for free on online forums.

Hacking Was a ‘Personal Challenge’

The investigation began last February when a Madrid-based company reported a data leak on a specialized forum. The hacker claimed to have sensitive information from the company, prompting authorities to investigate. They soon discovered that not only had data been stolen, but the entire system had been compromised.

Regarding his motives, the 18-year-old reportedly told El País that he did it “just for fun” and saw hacking these organizations as a personal challenge. He also admitted to gaining access to personal data of tens of thousands of military and police personnel in late 2024.