Wednesday, September 30, 2026 300 stories · 2187 outlet reports compared

Dutch man once profiled as 'reformed hacker' arrested in ShinyHunters probe

Dutch police arrested a man previously described in international media as a reformed hacker as part of an investigation into the hacker group ShinyHunters, according to police and his employer.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 30, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 A Dutch man was arrested in connection with an investigation into the hacker group ShinyHunters, according to Dutch police and his employer.
2 The man had previously been described in international media as a 'reformed hacker.'
3 According to The Jerusalem Post, the man is identified as Van der Stap, who was convicted in 2023 of data theft and extortion.
4 The arrest was reported on Monday, Sept. 28, in Amsterdam, according to The Straits Times.

Dutch police have arrested a man as part of an investigation into the hacker group ShinyHunters, according to police and his employer, cited by Reuters and The Straits Times.

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The man had previously drawn international media attention for what was portrayed as a shift from cybercriminal to security professional, according to the same reports.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the man, identified as Van der Stap, was convicted in 2023 of data theft and extortion, and his subsequent disavowal of cybercrime received widespread publicity.

The arrest took place in Amsterdam and was reported on Monday, Sept. 28, according to The Straits Times.

How each side covered it

Center

3 outlets
  • Reported the arrest of a Dutch man described as a 'reformed hacker' in connection with the ShinyHunters investigation.
  • Cited both Dutch police and the man's boss as sources confirming the arrest.
  • Noted his prior media coverage as an example of transitioning from cybercrime to security work.

“Dutch 'reformed hacker' arrested in ShinyHunters investigation, police and boss say” — The Straits Times

Right

1 outlet
  • Identified the arrested man as Van der Stap.
  • Highlighted his 2023 convictions for data theft and extortion.
  • Noted the widespread publicity around his later disavowal of cybercrime.

“Van der Stap's 2023 convictions of data theft and extortion received widespread publicity, as did his subsequent disavowal of cybercrime.” — The Jerusalem Post

Questions readers ask

What happened in the ShinyHunters investigation?

Dutch police arrested a man previously profiled as a 'reformed hacker' as part of an investigation into the hacker group ShinyHunters, according to police and his employer.

Who is the man arrested in the ShinyHunters probe?

According to The Jerusalem Post, the man is identified as Van der Stap, who was convicted in 2023 of data theft and extortion and later publicly renounced cybercrime.

Where and when was the arrest reported?

The arrest was reported in Amsterdam on Monday, Sept. 28, according to The Straits Times.

What is ShinyHunters?

ShinyHunters is a hacker group referenced in the investigation that led to the arrest, though the supplied sources do not provide further detail on the group itself.

Sources · 4 outlet reports

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