Back

MLB extortion attempt thwarted by undercover FBI agent


are technica reports that the operator of an illegal video streaming website called HeheStreams tried to extort $150,000 out of the US’s premier baseball league, the MLB, by stealing and threatening to publish its security vulnerabilities after being rebuffed by the MLB when he asked for compensation for pointing them out.

Joshua Streit, AKA Josh Brody, who has been charged with wire fraud, illicit digital transmission, sending interstate threats with the intent to extort, and two counts of computer intrusion, is also alleged to have illegally streamed sports content online from MLB, the NHL, the NBA, and the NFL He faces 37 years in prison if convicted.

The MLB executive Streit approached made it clear that, while the organisation thanked him for the heads-up, it did not pay a ‘bug bounty’ in such circumstances. Streit, slighted by the response, attempted to argue that he had done the MLB a favour and deserved financial recognition and that they should cough up. He again hit a brick wall, and from there, things escalated.

Head over to are technica for more details of what Streit did and how the FBI took him down.

Informed Sauce is hosting an Infinidat-sponsored event in London on 2 December about protecting businesses from cyber crime.

Short talks from the Metropolitan Police, a military-trained cyber threat expert and sponsor Infinidat’s EMEA Field CTO will be followed by a panel-led, room-wide moderated discussion, with plenty of opportunities for you to contribute your thoughts and ask questions.

Visit the event microsite for more details and to sign up.



RELATED INSIGHTS