Alleged ZeuS Botmaster Arrested For Stealing $100M From US Banks

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Alleged ZeuS Botmaster Arrested For Stealing $100M From US Banks

Posted by timothy on Friday January 11, 2013 @11:50PM from the stumbling-block-on-the-career-path dept.

Trailrunner7 writes "A 24-year-old Algerian man remains in a Thai jail awaiting extradition to the United States, where he is suspected of masterminding more than $100 million in global bank heists using the ZeuS and SpyEye Trojans. Malaysian authorities believe they've apprehended the hacker Hamza Bendelladj, who they say has been jetsetting around the world using millions of dollars stolen online from various banks. He was arrested at a Bangkok airport en route from Malaysia to Egypt. The hacker had developed a considerable reputation as a major operator of ZeuS-powered botnets and bragged about his exploits"

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moral of the story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 00:00 · Score: 5, Insightful

Don't spend money like an brain-dead Arkansas lotto winner if you steal millions of dollars from US victims using malware.
1. Re:moral of the story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 00:17 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Don't spend money like an brain-dead Arkansas lotto winner if you steal millions of dollars from US victims using malware.
  What else can he do with it besides spend it? He can't put it in the bank because banks aren't safe any more.
2. Re:moral of the story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 00:20 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  What? Isn't that Obama, Bernanke, Geithner, and the rest of the Legislative branch of the US government? The thing is, only the little guy gets arrested and punished for theft, but if you're a big hedge fund or banker John Corzine type, you get away with murder.
3. Re:moral of the story by Zontar+The+Mindless · 2013-01-12 00:47 · Score: 2
  
  What? Isn't that Obama, Bernanke, Geithner, and the rest of the Legislative branch of the US government? The thing is, only the little guy gets arrested and punished for theft, but if you're a big hedge fund or banker John Corzine type, you get away with murder.
  I wouldn't call someone "suspected of masterminding more than $100 million in global bank heists" a "little guy".
  BTW, none of those guys you mentioned are accused of running botnets, and none of them work in the Legislative branch, so why are you even bringing them up?
  
  --
  Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
4. Re:moral of the story by evil_aaronm · 2013-01-12 01:10 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I think AC was pointing to the fact that, rather than hold the people who caused the financial meltdown and subsequent bailout responsible, the authorities let them walk with their ill-gotten profits from their financial shenanigans. Isn't it up to the authorities to a) prevent these things; and / or b) prosecute them? We prosecute a botnet master who brags about his exploits, but we let walk those white collar criminals that took even more.
5. Re:moral of the story by lukeshep · 2013-01-12 01:36 · Score: 2
  
  White Collar season 3 has an episode with this exact plot line http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1942780/ apart from i think it was 125M USD
6. Re:moral of the story by loufoque · 2013-01-12 01:54 · Score: 1
  
  Invest it to get more money.
7. Re:moral of the story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 01:56 · Score: 0
  
  I doubt he will walk so easily. Probably the best bet he will get is a plea bargain where they cut his sentence to something like 50 years in prison, if he helps catch the rest of the operators and create an absolute defense against the mal-ware. But that still wont make him immune to joint bank lawsuits that will attempt to make up for the moneys list due to theft insurance claims.
8. Re:moral of the story by PPH · 2013-01-12 02:57 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  He could buy some Platinum and start minting coins.
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
9. Re:moral of the story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 03:11 · Score: 0
  
  He could have gone to Maccau in China and gambled it, even if the odds are against him it doesn't matter, it wasn't his money anyway, nothing turns illegitimate money into legitimate money easier than throwing it around in casino's.
10. Re:moral of the story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 07:36 · Score: 0
  
  He didn't say "don't spend it". He said don't spend it like an idiot. Not that complicated.
11. Re:moral of the story by Alien+Being · 2013-01-12 10:36 · Score: 0
  
  I think the moral of this story is "don't steal".
  The moral of the parent post and the fact that the moderators see it as "insightful" is that slashdot is a bastion of immoral pricks.
12. Re:moral of the story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 18:55 · Score: 0
  
  why don't you go do that then. more money for you and your aunt without all our competition right?
13. Re:moral of the story by Zontar+The+Mindless · 2013-01-12 22:32 · Score: 1
  
  Give me control of a planet's oxygen supply, and I don't care who runs the banks.
  
  --
  Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
14. Re:moral of the story by Zontar+The+Mindless · 2013-01-12 22:38 · Score: 1
  
  To put it into terms you'll understand and appreciate more easily, it's enough to pay your annual wage at the Quik-E Mart for 20,000 years.
  
  --
  Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
Re:bragging with my by thegreatbob · 2013-01-12 00:14 · Score: 0

Incorrect.

--
There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
better idea.. by fliptout · 2013-01-12 00:16 · Score: 5, Interesting

Why not leave him in Thai jail.

--
A witty saying proves you are wittier than the next guy.
1. Re:better idea.. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 01:11 · Score: 0
  
  I'm guessing because either Israel or the U.S. will be looking to hire him to write the next version of malware they send to Iran?
  Better than the drones they're sending to Pakistan I suppose, would you rather your enrichment equipment be destroyed or have a handful of civilians blown up every day or two?
2. Re:better idea.. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 01:15 · Score: 0
  
  Why not leave him in Thai jail.
  When he got caught he was caught by an honest Thai cop... When he goes to Jail I'm sure he can bribe his way out.
3. Re:better idea.. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 01:48 · Score: 0
  
  Because the US wants to continue waving it's big stick around for as long as possible? If the US has him extradited, it looks like the US is in control, how long will it be till other countries realise that the big stick is merely a shadow of what it was...
4. Re:better idea.. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 03:23 · Score: 0
  
  Because the US wants to continue waving it's big stick around for as long as possible? If the US has him extradited, it looks like the US is in control, how long will it be till other countries realise that the big stick is merely a shadow of what it was...
  Going on five years now.
5. Re:better idea.. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 04:30 · Score: 0
  
  He would learn kick-boxing and become as lethal as James Bond, a true human weapon for redistributing of wealth. You can't possibly want that.
6. Re:better idea.. by gl4ss · 2013-01-12 06:04 · Score: 1
  
  Why not leave him in Thai jail.
  because the thai's have nothing on him?
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
7. Re:better idea.. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 14:06 · Score: 0
  
  You think he'll be all Thai'd up?
8. Re:better idea.. by lonecrow · 2013-01-13 05:26 · Score: 1
  
  Recruiting for cyber-warfare
Really by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 00:21 · Score: 0

The first sentence of this post sounds like the start of a joke.
Pity by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 00:44 · Score: 0

After all, he's only stealing from what essentially are thieves themselves.
He should have owned not 0wned by houghi · 2013-01-12 00:46 · Score: 1

If he would have owned a bank and not 0wned them, he could have gotten away with a lot more then just 100.000.000.
I wonder how accurate that figure is. Is it just an attempt or is it the actual figure he would have been able to spend if he would not have been caught?
I suspect he did not get that money and the number is just everything added that can be pointed to theft, including pens and staplers and the electricity bill used to run the servers.
If it was actually 100M he could have been able to spend, then I can only applaud him. I have seen people be fired over stealing 2USD worth of stuff. That is totally not worth it. But 100M? Stoopid he bragged about it, but that is how must get caught. Either bragging or snitches.

--
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
1. Re:He should have owned not 0wned by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 00:56 · Score: 1
  
  Your comment adds nothing to this discussion.
2. Re:He should have owned not 0wned by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 00:58 · Score: 0
  
  Neither does yours, and probably not this one either. However GP's somewhat angsty anti-bank sorta-pro-script-kiddie rant smacks of lame.
3. Re:He should have owned not 0wned by loufoque · 2013-01-12 01:56 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  100M is not that much money.
Bragging. Always the same.... by gweihir · 2013-01-12 00:55 · Score: 2, Insightful

These people may have some superior specialized skills, but personality-wise, they are retarded. The same can incidentally be found in a lot of CEOs and high-placed government officials. Seems we promote the scum to the top, and those that cannot get promoted turn to crime instead in order to implement their delusions of grandeur.

--
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
1. Re:Bragging. Always the same.... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 01:26 · Score: 1
  
  Lower density substances rise above higher density substances. That's why we get the airheads at the top, and the smarties at the bottom.
2. Re:Bragging. Always the same.... by whoever57 · 2013-01-12 05:22 · Score: 2
  
  There are studies that show that personality disorders are more common in senior executives than the criminally insane:
  
  For our purposes, the most interesting results of the study came from the comparison of the senior business executives to the offenders at Broadmoor. The study showed that three out of the eleven personality disorders were more common in the senior business managers than in the criminal psychiatric patients
  
  --
  The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
3. Re:Bragging. Always the same.... by Sarten-X · 2013-01-12 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  Of course. That's why the middle-of-the-road average folks never brag about their fantasy football team, or how their kid did well in the science fair, or how perfectly that prank went off last week... And that failed project wasn't because of the "sick" day when the report was due, but definitely because of the manager's incompetence. Sure.
  Everybody takes credit for their achievements, and blames others for their problems. Why should CEOs or criminals be any different?
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
4. Re:Bragging. Always the same.... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 16:15 · Score: 0
  
  Society is like a stew: if you don't occasionally stir it up, the scum rises to the top.
5. Re:Bragging. Always the same.... by gweihir · 2013-01-13 03:07 · Score: 1
  
  I am not surprised in the least.
  
  --
  Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
Loose Lips Sink Ships by dav1dc · 2013-01-12 01:12 · Score: 5, Insightful

"The hacker had developed a considerable reputation as a major operator of ZeuS-powered botnets and bragged about his exploits"
Seems if he had just enjoyed the 100M and kept his mouth shut they might not have figured out who he is...
1. Re:Loose Lips Sink Ships by timeOday · 2013-01-12 03:07 · Score: 1
  
  Ego boost is the only real reason to amass a great fortune, so having it and keeping it secret is little better than not having it at all.
2. Re:Loose Lips Sink Ships by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 09:08 · Score: 0
  
  I don't know. Retirement sounds awfully good to me.
In related news by dkleinsc · 2013-01-12 01:16 · Score: 1, Interesting

US banks caught stealing billions from unsuspecting depositors, borrowers, investors, municipal governments, and the US treasury, had investigations of their activity closed out with nobody indicted or arrested.

--
I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
1. Re:In related news by witherstaff · 2013-01-12 18:17 · Score: 1
  
  The golden rule, he who has the gold makes the rules.
A 24-year-old Algerian man remains in a Thai jail by The+Shootist · 2013-01-12 01:27 · Score: 1

If I had 100 million dollars?
You would not find me.
Old News but some links from local Thai media... by nickserv · 2013-01-12 01:50 · Score: 4, Informative

This story should have run nearly a week ago, he was arrested last Sunday GMT +7.
Here's a story about it from the Bangkok Post that ran on the 7th GMT +7 http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/329622/police-nab-suspect-wanted-for-hacking
Here's another from local media in Thailand. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Hacker-held-pending-extradition-30197522.html
"The lawsuit states the suspect used the "spy eye" software to steal people's financial information through phony Web pages from 217 computer networks worldwide from December 2009 to September 2011. An arrest warrant was issued in the state of Georgia on December 21, 2011. US authorities later called on Thai police to nab him and also requested that he be detained pending extradition."
In the last couple years it seems that Thailand is trying to displace Canada as America's #1 bitch.
As you can see from the photos he's been all smiles from his arrest at the airport to the obligatory publicity photo op Thai police hold when they occasionally do their job and arrest someone.

--
Less *is* more.
Different from finance? by loufoque · 2013-01-12 01:53 · Score: 1

How is using a bot to farm millions any different than what financial companies do?
1. Re:Different from finance? by ScentCone · 2013-01-12 02:27 · Score: 2
  
  How is using a bot to farm millions any different than what financial companies do?
  When you pay interest, or management fees, or brokerage fees, you're doing it on purpose. You've shopped around, chosen the institution you want to do business with, made the choice to use their services and to pay what it costs. You really don't understand how that differs from someone who steals money by using compromised user accounts to take money against your will and without your knowledge?
  
  --
  Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
Put the ketchup bottle down, Mr. Abignale... by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2013-01-12 02:01 · Score: 2

> "and bragged about his exploits"
Stupid, stupid supervillains.

--
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
Got arrested with $100M? by GameboyRMH · 2013-01-12 02:40 · Score: 1

That's worse than getting caught in a police chase on a literbike. With $100M it's possible to make yourself impossible to arrest, worst case scenario you get yourself a nice mansion in the Mexican countryside and hire some ex-military gangsters to run your security.

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Easy... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 03:12 · Score: 0

Take all his money, download his brain, bullet to the head.
No. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-12 05:16 · Score: 0

Your little pipe dream scenario didn't help John McAffee. In the end the Belizian state started coming for his money. It started with the little fish biting at him, the barracudas then converged and he then decided to run before the sharks got there.
The problem with hiring mercenaries to "protect" you is they eventually realize there's no one to protect you against THEM.
Re:even a better idea by fascismforthepeople · 2013-01-12 07:58 · Score: 1

he pissed off too many wealthy individuals to ever get out of jail now.
Except that is exactly what you have advocated for a long time, though - a judicial system for the wealthy. You call for greater concentration of power for the wealthiest people in this country, and here you are looking at a prime example of it - yet you are unhappy?

You claim that concentrating wealth and power into increasingly fewer hands will somehow deliver freedom. You claim that you want liberty - though what you really aim to bring about is fascism for the people.
Absolutely AGREED, 110% (want to know more?) by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-13 00:14 · Score: 0

http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3377363&cid=42566953
* Yes, I posted that...
APK
P.S.=> 1 tiny point I will amend here though on it, & the BIGGEST CROOKS IN EXISTENCE - Rothchild's family is there now, descendants, in the "IMF", not "Baron Rothschild" himself (he merely helped setup the banks for control of money for his descendants, & the Rockefellers + 13 or so others, & he even said it himself HOW/WHY- read what he said there)...
... apk
what!? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-13 10:36 · Score: 0

no terrorist or al qaeda link? i thought this was sop
Re:Sure: I write code (here's some 4U, troll)... a by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-14 02:05 · Score: 0

Just go kill yourself, Alex. The world hates you.
My upward modded posts state otherwise by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-14 07:20 · Score: 0

See my subject-line above, & then roughly 241++ of them & I post as AC (hard to get even +1, as /. hides our posts & we "AC"'s start @ ZERO/0 points, unlike registered "lusers", lol!):
---
+5 'modded up' posts by "yours truly" (8):
HOSTS & BGP:2010 -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1901826&cid=34490450
FIREFOX IN DANGER: 2011 -> http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2559120&cid=38268580
TESLA:2010 -> http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1872982&cid=34264190
TESLA:2010 -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1806946&cid=33777976
NVIDIA 2d:2006 -> http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175774&cid=14610147
Ubuntu Linux sends back local disk query strings to CANONICAL: 2012 -> http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3304601&cid=42234351
Question to Mr. Mark Shuttleworth @ UBUNTU/CANONICAL: 2012 -> http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3304725&cid=42243467
COMPUTER ASSOCIATES BUSTED FOR ACCOUNTING FRAUD:2010 -> http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1884922&cid=34350102
----
+4 'modded up' posts by "yours truly" (5):
APK SECURITY GUIDE:2005 -> http://developers.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=167071&cid=13931198
INFO. SYSTEMS WORK:2005 -> http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=161862&cid=13531817
WINDOWS @ NASDAQ 7++ YRS. NOW:2009 -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1290967&cid=28571315
CARMACK'S ARMADILLO AEROSPACE:2005 -> http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=158310&cid=13263898
What I admire about Theo DeRaadt of BSD fame: 2012 -> http://linux.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3007641&cid=40785151
----
+3 'modded up' posts by "yours truly" (7):
APK MICROSOFT INTERVIEW:2005 -> http://developers.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=155172&cid=13007974
Linux security failures 2011-2012: 2012 -> http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3319303&cid=42306663
APK MS SYMBOLIC DIRECTORY LINKS:2005 -> http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=166850&cid=13914137
APK FOOLS IE7 INSTALL IN BETA HOW TO:2006 -> http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175857&cid=14615222
PROOFS ON OPERA SPEED & SECURITY:2007 -> http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=273931&cid=20291847
HBGary POST in Fake Names On Social Networks, a Fake Problem:2011 -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2375110&cid=37056304
APK RC STOP ROOKIT TECHNIQUES:2008