Global arrests in 'Blackshades' hacker crackdown
Posted by: Jon Ben-Mayor on 05/19/2014 10:18 AM
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Arrests in over 13 different countries took place in an international effort to crackdown on hackers using 'Blackshades' RAT (random access tool) software. The software allows the hacker to remotely control a large network of infected computers and comes armed and ready with keyloggers, Java exploits and assorted other evil little goodies for stealing user names, passwords and IM applications. The Blackshades software was sold in underground online hacking marketplaces for under $100.
It is important to note that this software does have legitimate purposes, as it can be used to access a work or home computer from another location, not unlike TeamViewer for instance.
According to the BBC, the UK's National Crime Agency said 15 arrests took place in England and two men were held in Scotland.
Other people were held in countries including the US, France and Germany.
The NCA said the inquiry focused on the developers and "prolific users" of Blackshades.
It said investigators believe about 200,000 usernames and passwords of victims across the world may have been taken by UK users of Blackshades.
The software typically infects computers when people click on external links on social networking and communication platforms that purport to lead to pictures, videos or other items of interest, said the NCA.
Once installed, criminals can use the software to capture passwords or take pictures of computer users which may be used to blackmail them.
French officials said last week's raids happened after the FBI arrested two BlackShades developers and distributed a list of their international customers who purchased the malware, according to the StarTribune.
Coordination agencies Europol and Eurojust, based in The Hague, Netherlands, said Monday that police in 13 European countries — Austria, Belgium, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands and Switzerland — as well as in the United States, Canada and Chile raided 359 properties and seized cash, firearms, drugs and more than 1,000 data storage devices.
It is important to note that this software does have legitimate purposes, as it can be used to access a work or home computer from another location, not unlike TeamViewer for instance.According to the BBC, the UK's National Crime Agency said 15 arrests took place in England and two men were held in Scotland.
Other people were held in countries including the US, France and Germany.
The NCA said the inquiry focused on the developers and "prolific users" of Blackshades.
It said investigators believe about 200,000 usernames and passwords of victims across the world may have been taken by UK users of Blackshades.
The software typically infects computers when people click on external links on social networking and communication platforms that purport to lead to pictures, videos or other items of interest, said the NCA.
Once installed, criminals can use the software to capture passwords or take pictures of computer users which may be used to blackmail them.
French officials said last week's raids happened after the FBI arrested two BlackShades developers and distributed a list of their international customers who purchased the malware, according to the StarTribune.
Coordination agencies Europol and Eurojust, based in The Hague, Netherlands, said Monday that police in 13 European countries — Austria, Belgium, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands and Switzerland — as well as in the United States, Canada and Chile raided 359 properties and seized cash, firearms, drugs and more than 1,000 data storage devices.
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