Over 100 International Creepware Hackers Brought Down

Over 100 International Creepware Hackers Brought Down

  • By Ginger Hill
  • May 19, 2014

Just when you thought being a creep was free, now it will cost you a mere $40 to purchase malware called Blackshades that can hijack computers remotely, turn on computer webcams, access hard drives and capture keystrokes to steal passwords, all on the incognito! More than half a million people have fallen prey to its silent snooping…until now.Over 100 International Creepware Hackers Brought Down

As computer hacker forums were plagued with news of a possible international crackdown, law enforcement officials from around the world knocked on doors. Cybercriminals were trying to warn other hackers of this major crackdown, but to no avail. The FBI and police in 17 countries brought more than 100 hackers down, seizing computers, making arrests and putting an end to a two-year operation that was so coordinated these hackers didn’t have time to destroy evidence. (This arrest even included Blackshades’ co-creator, a Swedish hacker who was arrested in Moldova.)

This so-called “creepware” has become one of the world’s most popular RATs (remote administration tools) and has grown so quickly because it is off-the-shelf, easy-to-use software that is very sophisticated, yet easy to install and very difficult to detect.

Most computer users don’t update their anti-virus software, even though cybercriminals prey on weak links to allow them access and mistakes by computer users to infect their machines with viruses. Absent-minded computer users clink on links in messages on social media sites or within emails, without even knowing what they’re clicking. Then, in a matter of seconds, malware is downloaded onto their computer.

And, what’s the most common way cybercriminals have been using Blackshades? By sending legitimate-looking emails that entice the receiver to click on the link inside the email. Simple, yet apparently, very effective.

Officials hope that this initial arrest will put a dent into stopping this global threat, but I suspect in the hacker’s forums, there’s already talk of a new and improved version.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Motorola Solutions Named Official Safety Technology Supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

    Motorola Solutions has today been named the Official Safety Technology Supplier of the 2025 and 2027 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s renowned biennial team competition between the United States and Europe. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.