You read about malware attacks and malware being on the rise quite frequently on this blog. You also find out how you can keep your network protected with the help of computer repair experts CT. One thing you may not hear about as often are the perpetrators being apprehended; many cyber criminals spend a great deal of their time eluding the authorities and covering their tracks trying to make it more difficult to find them. But this time the cyber criminals have been caught and will be prosecuted.

Six people of a team of seven have been arrested in connection with a malware scheme that scammed $14 million out of computer users across the globe, reported PC World:

“The defendants — six Estonians and one Russian — allegedly hijacked more than 4 million computers using malware that rerouted Internet traffic to websites where they would get a cut of the ad revenue. Infected computers with users looking for popular websites such as Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes were rerouted to webpages that featured the defendants’ ads.”

Computer users would visit a site and then click on an advertisement that interested them only to be rerouted to a different site. One case that was listed in the indictment was an advertisement on the Wall Street Journal’s website that appeared to be for American Express but once users clicked on it they were rerouted to a fashion website. Each time a user was rerouted to this other website the criminals would profit.

“This case is supposedly the “first of its kind,” according to US Attorney Preet Bharara, because the suspects set up their own “rogue servers” in order to perform the rerouting. Using their rogue servers, the defendants were allegedly able to substitute legitimate Internet ads with their own ads, thereby generating millions in advertising revenue.”

“The defendants are being charged with 27 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and computer-related crimes. The most serious charges, wire fraud and money laundering, carry a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison.”

If you believe your computer my have been affected, by this malware or any other type of malicious software, it is a good idea to contact a computer repair specialist today. Your network security is crucial to your privacy in your home and your clients’ privacy if you run a small business.