Teen 'Botnet' Leader Arrested in New Zealand
In the realm of cyber terrorism, the botnet is a terrible thing. It's a collection of computers hijacked through malicious software that can be used to stage massive attacks, like the ones that shut down networks across Estonia earlier this year. One of the ringleaders in a global 1.3-milliion-computer botnet has been arrested, and surprisingly, he's only 18.The kid, whose name has not been released due to his age, is known only as "AKILL." He was arrested as part of the FBI's 'Operation Bot Roast', a global effort to discover and shut down cyber-terrorists. Threats from botnets already apprehended by the FBI are estimated to have resulted in the embezzlement of over $20-million. It's unclear whether AKILL himself made any significant amounts of money from his botnet, but it is known that he used it to barter for access to viruses and digital trojans, tools of the trade in the botnet world. These were given in exchange for using his botnet to attack computer networks. That sort of bartering led to a cyber-attack on the University of Pennsylvania in February 2006.
While this is a major step, AKILL is just one player in a sea of botnet criminals. He is said to be tied to a botnet gang known as the A-Team, who the FBI hopes will also be behind bars soon.
From BBC News and PC World
Related Links:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Angela @ Nov 30th 2007 11:47AM
Why not release his name? Last I heard, 18 years old makes a person an adult. Don't treat him like a baby!
rasta @ Nov 30th 2007 11:57AM
1337 gibson hax0r
NDB @ Nov 30th 2007 11:57AM
Why is it so surprising that he is only 18? It's at that age and younger when people are at their prime as far as discovering and working through aspects of any kind of things that they feel is a challenge to them or catches their fancy...like he was supposed become a genius once he was 21 or something.
Jordan @ Nov 30th 2007 12:03PM
Put him in jail and hard labor picking rocks seven days a week, and then hang him in the yard in front of the other prisoners; these criminals are causing too much anxiety to millions of us, AND stealing millions of Dollars
blondie @ Nov 30th 2007 12:04PM
What is up with the picture of Mr.T? What does that picture have to do with the article?
dee law @ Nov 30th 2007 12:10PM
All young offenders names SHOULD be released. It is for this very reason some young adults are NOT afraid to do things they other wise might not do. They KNOW they can get by with it, that it will not be made known. If they do the crime , it should be told. Maybe then, some of this violence will stop
Tom @ Nov 30th 2007 12:32PM
This is surprising that he is only 18? He doesn't have anything better to do but hack on his computer all day obviously. Lock this guy and his up and throw away the key!!! NEVER LET HIM OR HIS GANG TOUCH ANYTHING ELECTRONIC EVER AGAIN!!!! He and his gang are just a handful of the people that give the rest of us more grief than any of us need with computer fraud, theft, and UPDATES to try to stop these people from stealing our money. Why not disclose his name? Are the authorities afraid someone will take care of this thief themself? I can't say I would blame anybody for that. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that are just as sick and tired of thieves as I am and it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if internet theft was a prison sentence for life.
Isabella @ Nov 30th 2007 12:36PM
This 18 year old should have his name released. He committed an adult crime, and everyone should know who he is. We coddle criminals too much in this world right now. As far as I'm concerned if you commit a serious crime, I'm not worried about infringing their civil rights. You should not have any civil rights !
mike @ Nov 30th 2007 12:38PM
This is nuts he is old enough to murder people in the name of God and country, get laid, and in most places own firearms, and drink alcohol. My guess is there is something rotten in the FBI or the age of consent has been raised again. Also could be the FBI is tired of being sued for arresting the wrong person.. I do not feel the name of a person should be released until they are found guilty. This prevents the lives of people from being destroyed by over zealous Police and FBI agents and irresponsible media whores. Actually I would be interested in some information on how and what he did so I could protect my self form his particular scam. The biggest thing anyone can do in disconnect from the inter net when you are not actively using it. If you user a routes change the base IP address at least once a month, I have a program I wrote that shutdowns 27 monitoring programs started by major software companies during startup. I shutdown these programs before the internet connection is made.
Mike @ Nov 30th 2007 12:41PM
Blondie:
"He is said to be tied to a botnet gang known as the A-Team, who the FBI hopes will also be behind bars soon"
I pity da fool dat mess wit botnet!!
rafa @ Nov 30th 2007 12:44PM
The reason why name is not released is because he is cooperating with the fbi to nab the rest of his cyber thieve friends.
LMT @ Nov 30th 2007 12:48PM
Put the kid to work for the FBI and other "good- guy" organizations as a way of paying for what he did. Use the thief to catch other thieves. That mind of his is too good to waste!
Tobi @ Nov 30th 2007 12:50PM
What's the deal with the picture of The "A" Team?
kiwifan @ Nov 30th 2007 12:51PM
the kid's name is owen wilson from whitianga...he was homeschooled and works for trios software development...he enlisted a group of computer dudes called the a-team...that is why the picture accompanies this article..by and by, he still lives at home and is described as a loner
pawntail @ Nov 30th 2007 12:53PM
Did you people every think that they arent releasing his name because they might use him as an operative in their own forces? A kid with that much talent can usually be forced into working FOR the FBI instead of going to jail. They said he was part of a ring of people, he has extremely valuable information on other cyberterrorists and to release his name is counterproductive on the investigation. Also, who cares what his name is? DO YOU KNOW HIM? Doubt it! So what would YOU knowing his name do? He's in serious trouble, they WILL lock him up at some point. So get over not knowing every single juicy bit!
bobby @ Nov 30th 2007 1:22PM
i always knew that Murdoch was just "craaaaaa...ZY"
Mike Glen @ Nov 30th 2007 1:30PM
Another bored cyber baby.
These kids seem to think ripping off the net is fun. How about we tell them they will be billed for all the damage and they will not be allowed back on the net for life.
The net is a fantastic thing and should be protected from these cyberdelinquents.
kelly @ Nov 30th 2007 1:37PM
What do you expect a kid in the Waikato region on New zealand to do?? there is nothing for kids to do here but milk cows, screw sheep, get pregnant young, drink and figure out ways to mess up people lives.. It is all done in the name of trying beaintg the bordom... the kid is from just outside Hamilton...
Gadget @ Nov 30th 2007 2:11PM
Blondie.........
Please read the article again.........The BAD
guys call themselves the A-Team :)
So in reality they just SHOWED a picture of
the TV A-Team :)
I hope they catch them FAST!!!
Gail
Nina @ Nov 30th 2007 2:13PM
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10479450