Swedish native, Alex Yucel, was sentenced to four years and nine months of prison time having pleaded guilty to charges linked to his role in the spread of an infamous malware program. Caught and extradited from Moldova in 2014, the case has finally come to a conclusion in a Manhattan federal court.
Yucel was one of the known creators of the Blackshades RAT (remote access tool) malware, responsible for infecting over half a million computers. Blackshades proved to be very popular amongst hackers for its, accessibility, price and ease of use. The program was sold to thousands of people online at $40 each. Total sales were calculated at upwards of $350,000 by law enforcement.
Blackshades allowed users to remotely modify computer files; access webcams; use the victim's network as a proxy server; download and install more files onto the the victim's machine; and use the victim's machine as part of a botnet to engage in DDoS attacks. The ability to remotely control a victim's computer made Blackshades a candidate program in ransomware scams.
The maximum penalty for the offense of spreading malicious software is 17 years, Yucel's decision to admit guilt may have been a mitigating factor in the eventual decision to grant him a sentence of 57 months alongside a penalty fine of $200,000.
American law enforcement has promised to take a more aggressive stance against those that aim to victimize American citizens online.
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