In Novosibirsk, reports emerged that the head of the information security department within the city’s traffic police division faced serious accusations. The allegations centered on the use of a malware-based method to facilitate the creation of custom car license plates, effectively bypassing the official state system at the behest of a paying client. This information circulated through a Telegram channel known as Shot, which specializes in fast, often sensational coverage of security and law enforcement topics in the region.
The cyber operation, allegedly devised by a lieutenant colonel, purportedly enabled a breach of the anti-corruption safeguards embedded in the traffic police database. These safeguards are routinely described as a curb against the illicit sale of “desirable” or vanity plates. The tool in question was reported to remove or alter plate identifiers on specific numbers, allowing the same identifiers to be swapped for new ones upon request from the customer. In effect, the program acted as a backdoor for manipulating plate assignments, undermining the integrity of the licensing process and enabling potential fraud schemes that could evade standard verification checks.
According to investigators, the illicit software reportedly operated on more than eighty occasions. The breakthrough for law enforcement purportedly came when one of the previously altered numbers, which had been changed from its original designation to a more sought-after combination, was reinserted into the traffic police database. This trace enabled authorities to establish a clear link between the altered plates and their entry into the official records, providing concrete evidence of the systemic breach and its repeated execution. A criminal case was opened under statutes that cover the creation, use, and distribution of malicious software, highlighting the severity of the attempted manipulation and the broader implications for public trust in vehicle registration systems.
Additional developments indicated that the implicated individual had ties to activities in the Krasnodar region, with rumors suggesting involvement in a transport operation that crossed regional lines. Those details point to a wider network of actors who may have coordinated the sale or distribution of irregular license plates, leveraging gaps in oversight to facilitate forbidden transactions. The information underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in policing digital-era offenses that intersect with traditional administrative processes and regulated vehicle identification schemes.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the country, a separate incident drew attention in Rostov-on-Don where a group of inebriated bystanders were observed reacting with aggression toward parked vehicles. The scene involved a passing individual who attempted to intervene as cars were being damaged, illustrating how social disturbances can compound concerns about road safety and public order. Though distinct from the license plate case, this event contributes to a broader narrative about the region’s security landscape, onlookers’ responses to wrongdoing, and the complexities of maintaining calm and orderly streets in the face of provocative behavior. It also highlights the interplay between everyday street-level incidents and the more technical, policy-driven discussions surrounding vehicle identification, registration integrity, and the enforcement mechanisms designed to deter misuse of the licensing system. Taken together, these reports paint a picture of a security environment where digital threats, administrative safeguards, and real-world disruption intersect in meaningful ways, prompting authorities to review procedures, strengthen monitoring, and pursue accountability across all levels of the system.