Celestia Founder Mustafa Al-Bassam Reflects on Hacking Days
Mustafa Al-Bassam, the founder of Celestia, has addressed his past as a hacker after recent posts surfaced about his teenage hacking days. He revealed that his favorite hack was not the CIA but rather the Westboro Baptist Church, which he hacked during a live radio show. Al-Bassam clarified that the CIA event was actually a DDoS attack and not a hack.
Al-Bassam directed his followers to a book about the hacker group Anonymous, in which he is featured. He explained that he was discussing his past after it was mentioned in other posts. In a previous interview with This Is Money, he stated that his favorite act as part of the hacker group LulzSec was targeting the Westboro Baptist Church. He also mentioned his involvement in helping activists in Tunisia protect themselves against government surveillance.
Al-Bassam’s Past Cyberattacks
At the age of 18, Al-Bassam pleaded guilty to multiple cyberattacks, including those on the CIA, the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency, Sony, News International, and the NHS. Along with Jake Davis and Ryan Ackroyd, he was one of the core members of LulzSec. The group only operated for a few months before being arrested. Bitcoin donations were common among its followers.
Gabriella Coleman, author of Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous, highlighted that Al-Bassam had experienced firsthand the consequences of engaging in direct action for causes he believed in.
About Celestia and TIA Token
Celestia is a modular data availability network founded by Mustafa Al-Bassam. The project’s token, TIA, was launched through an airdrop in October 2023 and has seen significant price appreciation since then. It is currently priced just below $20, not far from its all-time high.
Celestia TIA
+3.52%
founder Mustafa Al-Bassam has spoken again about his backstory after posts on X surfaced about his hacking days when he was a teenager.
Hot Take: Reflecting on Past Actions
Mustafa Al-Bassam’s recent discussion about his hacking days serves as a reminder that individuals can change and evolve over time. While he was involved in cyberattacks as a teenager, he has since founded Celestia and is actively contributing to the blockchain industry. Al-Bassam’s past experiences have likely shaped his perspective and commitment to building secure networks and protecting user privacy. It is essential to consider people’s growth journeys and focus on their current endeavors rather than solely dwelling on their past actions.
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