The United State District Judge P. Kevin Castel has
sentenced one of the creators of a malware dubbed ‘Blackshades RAT’(a
dangerous threat that can take over computers and steal personal and financial
information), Alex Yücel to 57 months in prison.
The Swedish national has been found guilty of computer
hacking on February 18, 2015 by the Judge. Along with the 57 months
imprisonment, the Judge ordered him to forfeit $200,000.
According to Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, Yucel created, marketed and sold software that
was designed to accomplish only to gain control of a computer along with a
victim's identity and other important information.
Blackshade RAT was distributed as a $40 download to
thousands of online criminals since his operations began in 2010
"This malware victimized thousands of people across the
globe and invaded their lives. But Yucel's computer hacking days are now over,"
Bharara said.
An international effort coordinating with UK National Crime
Agency (NCA) shut down the Blackshades attacks in 2014.
During that time, more than 80 people were arrested in raids
in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, the UK, Finland, Austria,
Estonia, Denmark, the U.S., Canada, Chile, Croatia, Italy, Moldova and
Switzerland.
Over 1,000 storage devices were confiscated, and the whole
cyber criminal fraternity was warned that they are running out of hiding
places.
"Criminals are finding out that committing crimes
remotely offers no protection from arrest," Andy Archibald, deputy
director of the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit at the time, told V3.co.uk.
"The unique scale of this cyber operation shows what
can happen when law enforcement agencies at local, national and international
level work together to tackle the perpetrators and help keep people safe. Cyber
crime is one of the most significant criminal threats to the UK. The NCA is
helping to build the capacity of its partners across the country and
co-ordinating the UK's collective efforts as part of the response," he
added.