Five arrested in Romania for spreading ransomware in U.S. and Europe
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Officials said the group of five were arrested on suspicion of unauthorized computer access, serious hindering of a computer system, misuse of devices with the intent of committing cyber crimes and blackmail.
A device compromised with ransomware will not function until the user pays a price.
Officials believe three of the suspects infected computer systems by spreading the Curve-Tor-Bitcoin Locker malware. The other two are believed to be involved with spreading Cerber, a ransomware focused on extorting money from users in the United States.
The five suspects did not design the software but are believed to have paid the designers 30 percent of their take. ■