A federal court judge sentenced two international computer hackers with long-term prison sentences. The cybercriminals were arrested for developing and distributing malware, which was responsible to massive losses to financial banking businesses around the world.
The US Justice Department announced on Wednesday that hackers, Aleksandr Panin, a 27-year old Russian national, will spend nine-and-a-half years in prison. While Panin's accomplice, Hamza Bendellad, 27, an Algerian national will serve 15 years in jail, an Atlanta U.S. District Court judge ruled, DW.com reported.
According to the department, FBI dismantled SpyEye, which they called the "preeminent malware banking Trojan from 2010-2012." The said malware was used by an international group of hackers "to infect over 50 million computers." It led to nearly $1 billion financial losses to individuals and financial institutions worldwide.
Panin was the primary developer of SpyEye and was arrested in 2013 at an airport in Atlanta, according to Reuters. The Russian national pleaded guilty in January 2014 to 23 counts of charges in the indictment, such as wire and bank fraudulent. While on the other hand, Bendelladj was caught in Thailand on January 2013 and he was turned over to the US authorities the next year.
The Algerian national was charged with 23 counts in the indictment, in which he all pleaded guilty in June 2015. The department stated, Bendelladj distributed the SpyEye malware through spam mails and related malware to computers in the United States, which caused hundreds of thousands computers hacked.
SpyEye is a kind of Trojan virus that is implanted on computers, without the users' knowledge. It works to steal sensitive information, such as bank account credentials, credit card information, passwords and PIN codes, CBC News reported.
When the malware fully gained access the computer, hackers will be able to con users into surrendering personal information which includes data grabbing and fake bank account pages. The control server will received the information and hack the victims' account.
FBI agents investigating the case were helped by private industry, including Microsoft Corp and Trend Micro Inc , and 26 international law enforcement agencies.
