Prosecutors in the Netherlands allege that three 17-year-old boys helped a hacker group linked to the Russian government by mapping Wi-Fi networks in The Hague and sharing the information for payment. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie, or OM) said the data could be used for digital espionage or cyberattacks. The allegation is under investigation: the OM’s 17 October 2025 update did not report that an attack occurred or that any suspect had been convicted.
What prosecutors say the teenagers allegedly did
In its 17 October 2025 announcement, the OM said one suspect was believed to have contact with a hacker group linked to the Russian government. According to prosecutors, he instructed the other two boys to map Wi-Fi networks in The Hague. The collected information was allegedly shared with the contact in exchange for payment.
The OM said the information could be used for digital espionage and cyberattacks. That describes a potential use prosecutors identified; the public statement does not establish that an attack took place, name the group, or publicly attribute this specific alleged operation to the Russian state.
Who was arrested, and what happened next?
The OM said the investigation began after a report from the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD). All three suspects were male and 17 years old at the time of the announcement. Two were arrested on 22 September 2025 and initially held in pretrial detention for 14 days.
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In a 2 October 2025 procedural update, prosecutors said one suspect’s detention had been extended until 27 October but converted to house arrest, with suspension under conditions from that date. The other suspect had been released from house arrest under conditions on 8 October. A third minor was questioned and had data carriers seized, but was not arrested because the OM described his role as limited. The investigation into each person’s precise involvement continued.
The case was being investigated by Team State Interference (Team Statelijke Inmenging) of the National Investigation and Interventions Unit, under the National Office of the Public Prosecution Service. The OM’s update describes suspects and allegations, not convictions.
Did Russia pressure the teenager?
As of its 17 October 2025 update, the OM said it had no indication that the suspect who was in contact with the Russia-linked group had been pressured. It also said it had no indications that other people in the suspects’ circle were criminally involved. These are the prosecution service’s statements at that date, not a finding about what may emerge later.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is a Wi-Fi sniffer?
In its initial report on 26 September 2025, NOS described a “wifi-sniffer” as part of its account of the suspected activity. The term can refer generally to a device or app used to map nearby wireless networks or intercept data. NOS also reported a route near Europol, Eurojust, and the Canadian embassy, based on information attributed to a family member and other media coverage.
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Those particulars belong to NOS’s early reporting, not to the OM’s October case statement. The OM later confirmed the broader allegation of Wi-Fi network mapping in The Hague but did not identify a particular device, app, brand, technical method, or route.
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What remains unconfirmed
- The name of the hacker group and the identity of the alleged client have not been publicly specified in the cited OM updates.
- The official October statement does not identify the equipment or software used to map networks.
- The public account does not establish that espionage or a cyberattack was carried out using the collected information.
- The OM said the investigation was ongoing. The final judicial outcome and any later procedural changes are not established by the cited updates.
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