BlackShades programme hijacked half a million computers worldwide
BlackShades investigation gathers pace, with shocking discovery that thousands of users hijacked half a million computers worldwide
The software cost just US$40. In return, hackers using the sinister BlackShades program could take over personal computers anywhere in the world.
Some stole sexually explicit photographs. Others trained their victims' webcams on them using a remote access tool.
BlackShades made taking over a computer so easy, a caveman could do it
Some were so bold that they even threatened victims who tried to block the online intrusions, prosecutors said as they announced charges against BlackShades users.
"It is without doubt one of the greatest threats to our country," said the US attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara.
Prosecutors in New York did not provide details about victims of BlackShades and its flagship feature, Remote Access Tool, or RAT, which let users hijack victims' computers.
But last year, officials said they found evidence that BlackShades had been used to spy on Miss Teen USA 2013 Cassidy Wolf.