14 DAY TRIAL // Note. After talking to a number of hackers and security experts familiar with Hmei7's work, we've determined that the hacker we've interviewed is not the real Hmei7. He has provided us with proof that he is Hmei7, but new evidence suggests that he is simply a troll.
Security expert Janne Ahlberg has been following his work and determined that he is likely an individual from the Netherlands. Additional research on this hacker can be found on Ahlberg's blog.
We’ve found another hacker for our Hackers around the world series. This time, we’ve had an interesting interview with Hmei7, an Indonesian hacker who’s famous for the large number of websites he has defaced.
According to zone-h.org statistics, he holds the record for the largest number of defacements submitted to the website, 204,457 to be more precise.
Take a look at the interview to find out more about the hacker.
Softpedia: Tell us a bit about yourself. Are you involved with any groups or do you work alone?
Hmei7: Hello, my name is Hmei7. I’m 17 years old, from Indonesia, and I study in a University in Indonesia.
This is my last year and I have exams soon, then I will get my diploma.
As a hacker, I work alone.
First, I was a black hat, but I have stopped with that so I decide to help administrators with their security problems. So, I´m a white hat now :)
Softpedia: What is the significance of the name "Hmei7"?
Hmei7: It was just a random name.
Softpedia: When did you start hacking and what triggered your interest?
Hmei7: I actually don´t know why I did it for the first time, but I really liked to do it so in that moment I started to learn hacking.
Softpedia: Which was the first website you hacked?
Hmei7: The first website that I defaced was the IBM Development website. I never expect that it was possible for me to do it, but when I got access into the website I was really proud of myself. In that moment I decide to study hacking.
Softpedia: How many sites have you hacked so far?
Hmei7: According to zone-h, total notifications: 204,457 of which 80,726 single IP and 123,731 mass defacements.
Softpedia: Can you share an interesting hacking story with our readers?
Hmei7: When I started to learn hacking I wanted to find a high profile site to hack, so some friends of me asked if I want to deface the IBM Development. It was difficult for me. I learned so many things from my friends and from some websites.
After I learned many things I was trying to deface the IBM Development. When I got access, I found many users, mails, passwords etc., but I didn’t publish them, I just defaced the websites and in that moment my name Hmei7 was probably "famous" for the deface.
Softpedia: Some other hackers have also been using the name Hmei7. Do you know who they are or why are they doing it?
Hmei7: I don´t know them but I think that people use my name because they want social media attention, to be famous.
Softpedia: Tell us a bit about the cyber laws in Indonesia.
Hmei7: According to the Indonesia law, you can go to jail 6 years if you deface a website and 10 if you modify/publish a database.
Softpedia: Are you afraid of getting caught? Did you ever feel that police were trying to track you down?
Hmei7: No, I´m not afraid because I have already attacked many governments and corporations and they still don´t have any information about me, and they will never get something to know about me :)
Softpedia: Indonesia is planning on establishing a cyber army to protect the country from foreign attacks. What do you think about this? Would you enroll in such a cyber army?
Hmei7: Yes, of course. Indonesia is my country and my blood. I have helped the Indonesian Cyber Army in 2012 against Brazilian hackers. They attacked many domains belonging to Indonesia so I have taken actions on 1000+ Brazilian domains.
At that time, Brazilian hackers stopped to hacking Indonesia websites.
Softpedia: When you hack a website, do you ever think that a webmaster will have to deal with the consequences and maybe even get in trouble with his superiors?
Hmei7: No... actually, I don´t know.
Softpedia: You say you started as a black hat. Have you ever been involved in selling credit card data, or other similar activities?
Hmei7: Hmmmm that is a good question! But I never do that. I don´t understand what people want to do with the database of credit cards. It´s just sick!
Softpedia: Tell us a bit about the hacking scene in Indonesia. Are there many hacktivists / cybercriminals based here?
Hmei7: Yes, there are many hackers from Indonesia. The hacker scene in Indonesia, all of them are great hackers that protect our country.
I know that the most of them are 100 % BlackHat. Last month, there was a hacker from Indonesia who got arrested for his cybercrimes.
Softpedia: How do you manage to keep your hacker life separated from your real life? Have you told any of your family or friends that you're a hacker?
Hmei7: No, I keep it secret for people but I only tell it to my friends. I only tell it to my real friends.
Softpedia: Do you support the Anonymous movement?
Hmei7: Sometimes.
Softpedia: Why do you deface websites? What do you hope to achieve by doing this?
Hmei7: I deface a websites because I just do it for fun. I don´t have anything to achieve by doing this.
Softpedia: What do you do when you're not hacking? What other hobbies do you have?
Hmei7: When I’m not hacking I play football with my friends.
Softpedia: Is there anything you want to add?
Hmei7: Yes. There will come a day that someone said he is that hacker or that hacker etc. I don´t use FB or other social media. I actually also don´t use Twitter, but friends of mine have asked to make a Twitter because of the other ´Hmei7´ fakers.