CYBERCRIME: Spying tools website taken down after UK raids

CYBERCRIME: Spying tools website taken down afterm UK raids By GEO´ Newsdesk Team European Press Centre Málaga The BBC Reports that a website selling hacking tools that let attackers take over victims’ computers has been closed down after an international investigation. Police searched more than 80 properties across the world to find those selling the tools. Police said 14 people had been arrested worldwide in connection with the sale and use of the software

“They were also able to trace people who had bought the software and charge them with computer misuse offences…”

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said 14,500 people had bought spying tools from the Imminent Methods site so the problem is far from over. Imminent Methods sold a tool known as the Imminent Monitor Remote Access Trojan (Imrat) for about $25 (£19). It gave the attacker full access to an infected device, letting them steal data, monitor what the victim was doing and even access their webcam. The NCA said properties in Hull, Leeds, London, Manchester, Merseyside, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Somerset and Surrey were among those searched. The authorities were able to take down the website selling the software, which subsequently stopped the cyber-stalking tools from working. By seizing control of the website, police will have been able to “take a good look at what the site has been up to, including who has bought the illegal items”, said Professor Alan Woodward, a cyber-security expert from the University of Surrey. “The authorities now know how many users bought the malware on offer. They will now be working to unmask the 14,500 who were daft enough to buy this malware.” Source: BBC/Technology Image Credit: Argus News Group_/Stock