Ex-Army Soldier Guilty in Major Telecom Hacking

Former U.S. Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius, known as 'kiberphant0m,' pleaded guilty to hacking into at least 10 major telecommunications firms, including AT&T and Verizon, while serving on active duty. Wagenius and co-conspirators exploited weak security protocols and used brute force tools to steal sensitive data, which they tried to sell or used to extort over $1 million from the companies. The group shared stolen credentials via Telegram and threatened to release the data on cybercrime forums, successfully selling some information and carrying out SIM-swapping fraud. Their actions reportedly included unauthorized access to sensitive call records, possibly involving high-profile individuals, exposing significant vulnerabilities in U.S. telecom infrastructure. Wagenius faces up to 27 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for October 6, 2025. The case highlights the risks of insider threats and outdated security practices in critical digital infrastructure.