InfoAnda - U.S. shuts down massive cyber theft ring |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Metal singer Aaron Lewis finds second home in country music | | 19 November 2012
Taiwan's central bank to closely watch prices | 1 February 2011
Mexican acts line up for Vive Grupero festival | | 10 April 2010

U.S., Britain try to shore up Yemen security | | 2 January 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : U.S. shuts down massive cyber theft ring |

Edition: U.S. Article Comments (3) Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read UPDATE 1-Geithner says Congress will pass debt limit increase 13 Apr 2011 U.S. plans new push on Arab-Israeli peace: Clinton 12 Apr 2011 Senate panel slams Goldman in scathing crisis report 13 Apr 2011 Senate panel slams Goldman in scathing crisis report 13 Apr 2011 Brain shrinks a decade before Alzheimer's appears 13 Apr 2011 Discussed 156 China tells U.S. to quit as human rights judge 141 Reid says Republicans want shutdown to close clinics 117 Obama, Congress struggle to find budget deal Watched South Korean "super gun" packs hi-tech killing power Mon, Feb 14 2011 Argentine models bare it all Thu, Apr 7 2011 X-47B - the future of autonomous aerial warfare Fri, Feb 11 2011 SMALL BUSINESS Do fries go with that app? Worried about how many calories you are going to consume in a serving of fries? A new iPhone application may help. After taking a picture of the meal with the phone, the app gives a calorie read-out almost instantly Full Article Caribbean rum maker looks to tap U.S. market Startup targets online vacation rentals U.S. shuts down massive cyber theft ring Tweet Share this By Diane Bartz and Jim Finkle WASHINGTON/BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities claimed one of their biggest victories against cyber crime as they shut down a ring they said used malicious software to take control of more than 2 million PCs around the... Email Print Factbox Factbox: Environment, high-speed rail hit in budget deal Tue, Apr 12 2011 Related News Accused middleman admits guilt in insider case Mon, Apr 11 2011 Court rules against Arizona immigration law Mon, Apr 11 2011 Google seals ITA deal but antitrust review looms Mon, Apr 11 2011 J&J settles U.S., UK bribery, kickback charges Fri, Apr 8 2011 Analysis & Opinion Tech wrap: HTC trumps Nokia Where to put the ring-fence: implications of the UK bank report Related Topics U.S. » Technology » Stocks By Diane Bartz and Jim Finkle WASHINGTON/BOSTON | Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:55pm EDT WASHINGTON/BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities claimed one of their biggest victories against cyber crime as they shut down a ring they said used malicious software to take control of more than 2 million PCs around the world, and may have led to theft of more than $100 million. A computer virus, dubbed Coreflood, infected more than 2 million PCs, enslaving them into a "botnet" that grabbed banking credentials and other sensitive data its masters used to steal funds via fraudulent banking and wire transactions, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Wednesday. The government shuttered that botnet, which had operated for a decade, by seizing hard drives used to run it after a federal court in Connecticut gave the go-ahead. "This was big money stolen on a large scale by foreign criminals. The FBI wanted to stop it and they did an incredibly good job at it," said Alan Paller, director of research at the SAN Institute, a nonprofit group that helps fight cyber crime. The vast majority of the infected machines were in the United States, but the criminal gang was likely overseas. "We're pretty sure a Russian crime group was behind it," said Paller. Paller and other security experts said it was hard to know how much money the gang stole. It could easily be tens of millions of dollars and could go above $100 million, said Dave Marcus, McAfee Labs research and communications director. A civil complaint against 13 unnamed foreign nationals was also filed by the U.S. district attorney in Connecticut. It accused them of wire and bank fraud. The Justice Department said it had an ongoing criminal investigation. The malicious Coreflood software was used to infect computers with keylogging software that stole user names, passwords, financial data and other information, the Justice Department said. "The seizure of the Coreflood servers and Internet domain names is expected to prevent criminals from using Coreflood or computers infected by Coreflood for their nefarious purposes," U.S. Attorney David Fein said in a statement. In March, law enforcement raids on servers used by a Rustock botnet were shut down after legal action against them by Microsoft Corp. Authorities severed the Rustock IP addresses, effectively disabling the botnet. Rustock had been one of the biggest producers of spam e-mail, with some tech security experts estimating they produced half the spam that fills people's junk mail bins. A botnet is essentially one or more servers that spread malicious software and use the software to send spam or to steal personal information or data that can be used to empty a victim's bank account. U.S. government programmers shut down the Coreflood botnet on Tuesday. They also instructed the computers enslaved in the botnet to stop sending stolen data and to shut down. A similar tactic was used in a Dutch case, but it was the first time U.S. authorities had used this method to shut down a botnet, according to court documents. Victims of the botnet included a real estate company in Michigan that lost $115,771, a South Carolina law firm that lost $78,421 and a Tennessee defense contractor that lost $241,866, according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The government plans to work with Internet service providers around the country to identify other victims. (Reporting by Diane Bartz and Jim Finkle; editing by Gary Hill and Andre Grenon) U.S. Technology Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language, all capital letters or appear to be spam, and we review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. Comments (3) eaanders wrote: Does the that computer crime ring include the Israel and US sabotaging of the Iranian nuclear program? Apr 13, 2011 5:54pm EDT -- Report as abuse JamVee wrote: Hey Mr. Eaanders . . . What is it that you don’t like about the US (and others), using hi-tech means to defend themselves against their sworn (and very vocal about it) enemy? I suppose part of your agenda includes an Iranian Ayatollah sitting in the White House . . . ? Apr 13, 2011 7:42pm EDT -- Report as abuse IANGMNTAFM wrote: Theft is one thing. Guarding national security against a VERY dangerous and VERY real threat is another. Plus would you rather see a virus that doesn’t sacrifice human lives or an armed conflict with an untold number of casualties? Apr 13, 2011 9:22pm EDT -- Report as abuse See All Comments » Add Your Comment Social Stream (What's this?) © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Thursday, 14 April 2011
Israel's Lieberman told he may face graft charges |
Darfur refugees take 12 Sudan aid workers hostage |
Cuban Communist Party congress looks to future |
Microsoft explains phone software update delay |
Man accused of hacking Fed computer pleads guilty |
U.S. Internet advertising revenue hits record high in 2010 |
Catherine Zeta-Jones treated for bipolar disorder |
J.Lo named People's most beautiful woman |
Lady Gaga says she's channeling late Alexander McQueen |
Katie Couric still figuring out next job |
Newsweek owner Sidney Harman is dead at 92 |
Scream 4 more of the same, but fans won't mind |
Japan's nuclear crisis continues to hit economy |
Western, Arab nations say Libya's Gaddafi must go |
Venezuela opposition to pick Chavez challenger |
Syrian students mount protests in Aleppo, capital |
Italian lower house votes to cut Berlusconi trial |
Mexico nabs police accused of backing gang massacre |
Tunisia has legal cases against Ben Ali: minister |
Google first-quarter report to kick off era under new CEO |
Apple suppliers begin making white iPhones: sources |
U.S. shuts down massive cyber theft ring |
Amazon, labels to meet for locker talks: sources |
Microsoft explains phone software update delay |
Computer sales dip for first time in two years |
Ex-AllianceBernstein worker in NY charged in theft |
Lennon's Lucy in the Sky lyrics up for auction |
MTV Video Music Awards set for August 28 in L.A |
U.N. defends role in Ivory Coast Gbagbo ouster |
Belarus says five detained after metro bombing |
Uganda opposition leader injured during protest |
Mubarak detention a victory for many, army uneasy |
Split opposition boosts Nigerian leader's poll hopes |
Bahrain seeks to dissolve main opposition group |
Yemen opposition spurns talks, sets Saleh deadline |
Best Buy to open more online, mobile stores |
Video game developers group slams Amazon pricing |
Special report: In cyberspy vs. cyberspy, China has the edge |
Bet on tech for growth: John Calamos |
Fund managers shop for tech bargains |
Alcatel mulls corporate telecom gear unit sale: report |
Bigger stars, stronger industry to boost Cannes |
MTV Video Music Awards set for August 28 in L.A |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01