Federal law enforcement has put the brakes on a major international cybercrime operation, with a crackdown on a malware service that allowed cybercriminals to remotely hijack computers. Seizing several domains, including www.warzone.ws, the feds targeted the Warzone RAT—a powerful tool used by crooks to infiltrate and rob data from victims' machines without their knowledge.
Two individuals, Daniel Meli of Malta and Prince Onyeoziri Odinakachi of Nigeria have been indicted on charges related to their alleged role in the selling and assistance of this malicious software. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, these guys gave cybercriminals the keys to the kingdom—allowing them to snoop on private files, snap screenshots, and pilfer passwords, all preying on unsuspecting victims.
Meli was nabbed on February 7 in Malta, awaiting extradition to the U.S. Meanwhile, Odinakachi got the hook on the same day by Nigerian authorities. They face charges ratcheting up to a maximum of five years behind bars, with Meli also possibly facing a 10-year sentence due to additional charges. The law came down hard as part of a collaborative effort from international law enforcement aimed at cleaning up the digital streets.
Out of Massachusetts, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy pulled no punches, declaring, “We will turn over every stone to prevent cybercriminals from attacking the integrity of our computer networks, and we will root out those who support such cybercriminals so they will be held accountable. Those who sell malware and support cybercriminals using it should know that they cannot hide behind their keyboards or international borders.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen chimed in..
