WannaCry Terminator Detained in Connection with Another Malware

Marcus Hutchins, security researcher from Britain who discovered certain "kill switch" concealed in WannaCry the malware that wreaked havoc globally but stopped its outbreak, is now under FBI's custody for being involved in one more malware used to attack bank accounts.

On August 3, 2017, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released an indictment according to which, 23-yr-old Hutchins has been charged with having assisted in developing, distributing and updating the banker Trojan known as 'Kronos' during 2014-15.

Currently, Hutchins faces the accusation related to an American cyber-crime investigation which began much earlier to his WannaCry daring. Kronos filched personal information and credentials while installed harmful code onto victims' PCs. Previously in 2017, Hutchins was looked upon as a hero of the Internet after he assisted in halting WannaCry, the worm which attacked more than 150 countries in cyber-attacks. Money.cnn.com posted this, August 3, 2017.

The defendant, name undisclosed, during August 2014, traded the software at a price of $2,000 (1,522 pounds) in certain crypto-currency.

Understandably, Hutchins' arrest took place at the McCarran International Airport from where he would have flown back after taking part in the Def Con hacking conference.

Issuing one statement, DOJ said that an indictment covering 6 counts was returned from one grand jury of the federation against Hutchins in July 2017 following an investigation spanning 2-yrs. According to that indictment, Kronos malicious software was created for infecting computers and digging out usernames and passwords by accessing banking websites and transferring the same onto criminals' servers. Kronos, says DOJ's statement, is malware for attacking banking systems within several countries like France, Poland, Germany, UK and Canada.

As cyber-criminals mean billions lost from the economy every annum, FBI is set to keep working with international and domestic partners for making the right justice to offenders. Hutchins' family is getting financial support from the Foreign Office even as the latter is keeping touch with officials inside Las Vegas, whilst according to the National Cyber Security Center, it too knew about the situation.

The United States DOJ stated that Hutchins was scheduled to be in court within Las Vegas, August 3.

» SPAMfighter News - 8/10/2017