The three are suspected to have been behind the hacking ring Mariposa, which has infected PCs in 190 countries, and to have gained access to computer networks in over half the world’s 1,000 largest companies and at least 40 major international financial institutions.
The virus that was planted stole sensitive eve isk login information, credit card numbers and recorded all keystrokes made on the infected computers, then send the information back to its own “command center”.
The comprehensive data hack should have been stopped 23 December last year, and Spanish police now believe to have arrested the main men.
- They were short and well after all that could bring in money, “said Chris Davis of the Defense Intelligence security company that failed to stop Mariposas business.
Mariposas viruses were spread via Microsoft’s Explorer program, and it was also spread through infected USB memory sticks.