Hacker Dumped MacBook into River in Attempt to Destroy Digital Evidence

A former Coupang employee allegedly stole a security key and accessed customer records using a personal PC and a MacBook Air, exposing personal data for 33 million South Korean customers. After media exposure the suspect attempted to destroy a MacBook by smashing it, weighting it with bricks, and discarding it in a river; investigators recovered the device, extracted serial and forensic evidence (including attack scripts), and traced it to the accused. Coupang engaged Mandiant, Palo Alto Networks, and Ernst & Young for the forensic investigation, says the attacker only used two devices and deleted data after discovery, and announced ₩50,000 (~$35) vouchers for affected users (≈$1.17B), while authorities opened a formal inquiry.