Only days after Microsoft successfully managed to close down a botnet of approximately 277 domains, the Spanish police have revealed that they have arrested three individuals related to the Mariposa botnet. Consisting of a possible 13 million infected computers across 190 countries, the Mariposa botnet is one of the globe’s largest virus infected computer systems, sending out millions of junk emails and collecting huge amounts of personal data.
Only revealed by their internet names the three arrested individuals are 25 year old ostiator, 30 year old johnyloleante and 31 year old netkairo. All believed to be Spanish citizens with no current criminal records, the trio operate the network which is believed to have access to computers within 40 major global banks and a possible 50per cent of companies in the Fortune 1000.
Rendered inactive last December after the network had been under close surveillance by both the Spanish Guardia Civil and the FBI, the system infected computers without their owner’s knowledge. The hackers were then privy to confidential information and could use the botnet to remotely send out information or collect data. Senior research advisor at Panda Security Pedro Bustamante explained that the individuals had no “advanced hacking skills. This is very alarming because it proves how sophisticated and effective malware distribution software has become, empowering relatively unskilled cyber criminals to inflict major damage and financial loss,” he added.
Meanwhile, chief executive of Defence Intelligence Christopher Davis expressed “We will continue to fight the threat of botnets and the criminals behind them. We’ll start by dismantling their infrastructure and won’t stop until they’re standing in front of a judge.”
