Explorer

British security researcher who stopped WannaCry attack arrested over separate malware claims

London [U.K.], August 4 (ANI): The 23-year-old British security researcher, Marcus Hutchins, who was credited with stopping the WannaCry outbreak in its tracks, has been arrested by the FBI over his alleged involvement in another malicious software targetting bank accounts.

Hutchins is accused of having helped to create, spread and maintain the banking trojan Kronos between 2014 and 2015, according to an indictment released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday.

Hutchins, who is indicted with another unnamed co-defendant, stands accused of six counts of hacking-related crimes as a result of his alleged involvement with Kronos.

The Kronos malware was spread through emails with malicious attachments such as compromised Microsoft word documents, and hijacked credentials such as internet banking passwords to let its user steal money with ease.

Hutchins' co-defendant advertised the malware for sale on AlphaBay, a darknet marketplace, the indictment alleges, and sold it two months later.

New Kronos infections continued as late as 2016, when the malware was repurposed into a form used to attack small retailers, infecting point-of-sale systems and harvesting customers' credit card information.

Hutchins was recently given a special recognition award at cybersecurity celebration SC Awards Europe for halting the WannaCry malware. (ANI)


This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
Thu Feb 27, 7:52 pm
connaught place
19.2°
Precipitation: 0 mm    Humidity: 76%   Wind: ESE 13 km/h
See Today's Weather
Powered By:
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

ED Gets Home Ministry Green Light To Proceed Against Kejriwal, Sisodia In Delhi Liquor Policy Case
ED Gets Home Ministry Green Light To Proceed Against Kejriwal, Sisodia In Delhi Liquor Policy Case
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested, Officials Use Ladders To Reach His House
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested, Officials Use Ladders To Reach His House
Arvind Kejriwal To File Nomination Today After Offering Prayers At Hanuman Mandir, Valmiki Temple
Arvind Kejriwal To File Nomination Today After Offering Prayers At Hanuman Mandir, Valmiki Temple
Dense Fog Alert Continues In Delhi, Rain Likely Too: Check All Weather Details Before Stepping Out
Dense Fog Alert Continues In Delhi, Rain Likely Too: Check All Weather Details Before Stepping Out
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested Amid Historic Impeachment StandoffBreaking News: BJP Targets AAP After Student's NGO Link in Bomb Threat Case |ABP NEWSDelhi Election 2025: Former BJP leader Pravesh Verma raised the issue of voter verification |ABP NEWSBreaking News: BJP Blames AAP for the Bomb Threats Received by Delhi Schools |ABP NEWS
Embed widget