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Gang Jailed In Russia For DDoS Blackmail
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2006-10-06
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Sophos reports that a gang has been jailed in Russia for blackmailing online gambling companies using distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Each member of the gang has been sentenced to 8 years in prison as well as a $3,700 fine. According to Sophos:
The gang is said to have extorted more than $4 million from British companies after threatening to attack their websites, making them inaccessible to the outside world. Online casinos and betting websites were targeted by the group, who used compromised zombie computers to launch the denial-of-service attacks...
Victims of the online blackmail gang included Canbet Sports Bookmakers, who refused to pay a $10,000 ransom demand and found their website had been taken out of action by the hackers during the Breeders' Cup Races, losing them more than $200,000 in lost business for every day of downtime.
"Malicious DDoS attacks on commercial websites can cause serious financial damage to the businesses affected, and are a major nuisance to internet users," said Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley.
The gang of blackmailers was apparently in operation for six months, claiming over 50 victims in 30 different countries.
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