Expert Hacker Spared Jail
The British computer expert who helped shut down the WannaCry cyber-attack on the NHS said he is “incredibly thankful” after being spared jail in the US for creating malware.
Marcus Hutchins was hailed as a hero in May 2017 when he found a “kill switch” that slowed the effects of the WannaCry virus which affected over 300k computers in 150 countries worldwide
But the 25-year-old, from the seaside resort of Ilfracombe in Devon, was arrested by FBI agents in a Las Vegas airport months later after attending a hacking convention.
In April, 25-year-old Marcus Hutchins pleaded guilty to two charges of making malicious software, or malware. Prosecutors alleged that the malware let cyber-criminals steal online banking details from internet users. Hutchins admitted to creating two programs known as Kronos and UPAS Kit.Since Hutchins' arrest in 2017, he has remained in the US on bail.
The judge presiding at Hutchins' hearing, JP Stadtmueller, said that the 25-year-old would face one year of supervised release.
Hutchins, known online as MalwareTech, tweeted on Friday 26th July: “Sentenced to time served! Incredibly thankful for the understanding and leniency of the judge, the wonderful character letter you all sent, and everyone who helped me through the past two years, both financially and emotionally.”
He had pleaded guilty to two charges relating to writing malware, which court documents have described as “malicious computer code” known as Kronos.
The documents said: “The malware was designed to target banking information and to work on many types of web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. Since 2014, Kronos has been used to infect numerous computers around the world and steal banking information.”
Hutchins, who had faced up to 10 years in prison, tweeted before his hearing: “Heading into court now. No matter what happens, I love y’all.”
Writing earlier this year on his website, he said of his acts: “I regret these actions and accept full responsibility for my mistakes. Having grown up, I’ve since been using the same skills that I misused several years ago for constructive purposes. I will continue to devote my time to keeping people safe from malware attacks.”
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