On Thursday, federal authorities in Los Angeles seized the internet domain “worldwide labs dot com”, which was selling malicious software used by criminals to take control of victims’ computers and steal their data, according to a communication from the U.S. Department of Justice. This seizure was part of an international law enforcement effort to combat cybercrime, prompted by a Massive Malware Breach Sparks Federal Investigation.
A statement revealed that the website was selling NetWire, a type of malware referred to as a “remote access trojan” (RAT). NetWire has the ability to infiltrate and infect virtually every major computer operating system. It creates a covert “backdoor” that allows for administrative control, giving unauthorized and unrestricted remote access to a victim’s computer without their knowledge or consent. Court records filed in Los Angeles cited these details, as stated in the same statement.
It’s uncertain how many times buyers purchased malware from the seized website. In 2017, Citizen Lab, a digital rights watchdog, reported that they first detected NetWire in 2012. Hackers have used NetWire in several attacks, including targeting the healthcare and banking industries and committing credit card fraud.
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