FBI takes massive action against cybercrime
The FBI conducted a global crackdown on cybercrime, arresting at least 100 people in about 16 countries.
The target was the Blackshades Remote Access Tool or RAT spying software.
US attorney, Preet Bharara, explained why the software was so dangerous: 'For just 40 dollars, the Blackshades RAT enabled anyone, anywhere in the world, to instantly become a dangerous cybercriminal – able to steal your property and invade your privacy.'
He added that: 'Once installed on a victim’s computer, the Blackshades RAT allowed users to remotely and secretly gain access to everything on a victim’s computer, including private photographs and documents and even passwords to online accounts.'
So far, over half a million computers have been infected with RAT. As the software permitted cybercriminals to enable webcams, an 18-years-old Dutch was detained earlier in 2014 after he infected over 2,000 computers and used webcams to take pictures of women and girls.