An Internet hacker accused of breaking into private emails and disrupting websites has been arrested in the Eastern Province. According to Al-Hayat newspaper Wednesday, the 18-year-old male nicknamed “The General” reportedly advertised his hacking skills on websites and charged 50 riyals to break into private emails, 150 to disrupt websites, and 200 riyals to hack into computer systems. Police first received reports last week from website owners in Al-Khobar saying that a hacker had broken into their sites and placed advertisements offering his services. “He was offering to hack into websites and emails, and also offered training courses in how to hack and crash websites,” said one website owner, who preferred not to be named. Another victim who made an official report to the police described the hacker as “offering services at what would be considered by many to be very reasonable prices for someone wanting to break into other people's computer systems.” Eastern Province Police spokesman Yousef Al-Qahtani said a Saudi had been arrested at his place of residence in Baqeiq and that investigations were being conducted in Al-Khobar from where the first complaint to police was reported. Al-Qahtani told Al-Hayat that a full report would be presented in the next few days to the Commission for Investigation and Prosecution in the region ahead of taking the case to court if charges can be proven.
