Alleged Cybercriminals arrested

The National CyberCrime Unit at NCA has recently launched a major operation against Cybercriminals in the UK.  The operation lasted one week, and seventeen people were arrested. These people are suspected of using software designed to steal data from other people’s computer. This is part of a worldwide operation that has taken place worldwide against the set of malware tools named Blackshades.
The most used tool in the suite is called Remote Access Tool, and allows the crooks to take a computer over remotely. Other capabilities of Blackshades include being able to control the video camera, microphone, and to record the keys being pressed on the keyboard, allowing for example to record an internet banking session, password included. It is estimated that more than 200,00 password have been stolen via Blackshades worldwide.

How are PCs infected?

Users get their PCs infected by following a link that can be located for example in a spam email, a twitter post or a Facebook post. The installation is invisible to the user.

How can you protect yourself?

Do not follow links in an email if you do not know the sender. Do not trust your Facebook friends when then publish a link: either their account might have been hacked, or if they might have shared with you a link that  has already infected their machine.