Slovenian mastermind hacker behind botnet virus arrested

The hacker has been detained in Slovenia after a thorough investigation by Slovenian police, Spanish authorities and the FBI. Iserdo’s arrest is considered a major breakthrough in the investigation of a giant cyber scam, which used software called the Mariposa botnet to lift private information such as credit card and online banking credentials.

The network of infected computers, botnet, infected over half of the largest 1,000 American companies and around 40 major banks. The companies’ owners were generally unaware that their information was being seen by criminals via the internet.

FBI’s Deputy assistant director for the cyber division Jeffrey Troy said “Iserdo’s arrest takes the scam’s alleged mastermind off the street.” A few months ago, the Spanish police succeeded in breaking up the scam and arrested three of the scam’s “ringleaders.”

"To use an analogy here, as opposed to arresting the guy who broke into your home, we've arrested the guy that gave him the crowbar, the map and the best houses in the neighbourhood. And that is a huge break in the investigation of cyber crimes," Troy said.

Cyber masterminds are very rarely caught, as they disguise the sources of their internet traffic and use stolen computer resources.
The software was reportedly sold at €360 for the basic package, and €960 for a customised package.