8 years for blackmailing gang.Hackers have used compromised zombie computers to launch denial of service attacks An assault on a network that floods it with so many additional requests that regular traffic is either slowed or completely interrupted. Unlike a virus or worm, which can cause severe damage to databases, a denial of service attack interrupts network service for some period. . Experts at Sophos have welcomed news reports that authorities in Russia have jailed a gang who blackmailed online companies through distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. 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. Ivan Maksakov, Alexander Petrov For other people with this name, see . Alexander Dmitrievich Petrov (Russian: Александр Дмитриевич , and Denis Denis, king of Portugal: see Diniz. Stepanov were each sentenced to 8 years in prison and a $3,700 free. 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 The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I thoroughbred horse races operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982 by a consortium of North American racing organizations, led by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Races, losing them more than $200,000 in lost business for every day of downtime. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. prosecutors, the gang made over 50 similar blackmail attacks in 30 different countries during their six months of activity. "Malicious DDoS attacks on commercial websites can cause serious financial damage to the businesses affected, and are a major nuisance to interact users," said, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "These sentences should send a strong message to other internet hackers considering online blackmail that they can expect stiff sentences if caught. However, many gangs may believe that the relative anonymity of the internet gives them carte blanche CARTE BLANCHE. The signature of an individual or more, on a while. paper, with a sufficient space left above it to write a note or other writing. 2. In the course of business, it not unfrequently occurs that for the sake of convenience, signatures in blank are to carry on. All computer users should ensure that they have secure defenses in place to protect against abuse like this." www.sophos.com |
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