Man Charged for Remotely Controlling Devices & Spying on People for 13 Years

[Mystic Wanderer]

Whoa!  I'm glad I don't have a computer in my bedroom, and also glad I don't have a camera on my desktop.  Imagine having some stranger watching you for 13 years that you don't know! 

Wait... I think we all have people spying on us already, don't we? 
Well, this is different. This guy was really invading people's privacy.  No telling what all he heard and saw.  I'm glad he finally got caught.  

 

A North Royalton man was charged in a 16-count indictment today for allegedly creating and installing malware on thousands of computers for more than 13 years in order to watch, listen to, and obtain personal data from unknowing victims, as well as produce child pornography.

Phillip R. Durachinsky, 28, was charged with Computer Fraud and Abuse Act violations, Wiretap Act violations, production of child pornography, and aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, Durachinsky is alleged from 2003 through Jan. 20, 2017, to have orchestrated a scheme to access thousands of protected computers owned by individuals, companies, schools, a police department, and the government, including one owned by a subsidiary of the U.S. Department of Energy. He is alleged to have developed computer malware later named “Fruitfly” that he installed on computers and that enabled him to control each computer by accessing stored data, uploading files, taking and downloading screenshots, logging a user’s keystrokes, and turning on the camera and microphone to surreptitiously record images and audio.

As alleged in the indictment, Durachinsky used the malware to steal the personal data of victims, including their logon credentials, tax records, medical records, photographs, banking records, Internet searches, and potentially embarrassing communications. According to the indictment, Durachinsky used stolen logon credentials to access and download information from third-party websites.

Durachinsky is further alleged to have watched and listened to victims without their knowledge or permission and intercepted oral communications taking place in the room where the infected computer was located. In some cases, the malware alerted Durachinsky if a user typed words associated with pornography. According to the indictment, Durachinsky saved millions of images and often kept detailed notes of what he saw.

“For more than 13 years, Phillip Durachinsky allegedly infected with malware the computers of thousands of Americans and stole their most personal data and communications,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “This case is an example of the Justice Department’s continued efforts to hold accountable cybercriminals who invade the privacy of others and exploit technology for their own ends.”

“This defendant is alleged to have spent more than a decade spying on people across the country and accessing their personal information,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierleja.

“Durachinsky is alleged to have utilized his sophisticated cyber skills with ill intent, compromising numerous systems and individual computers,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony. “The FBI would like to commend the compromised entities that brought this to the attention of law enforcement authorities. It is this kind of collaboration that has enabled authorities to bring this cyber hacker to justice.”

Source

[BIAD]

Will we be surprised that after a month, he'll be offered a haircut, a suit and an office somewhere
in the bowels of the Pentagon?!! They don't let pieces of sh*t like this to go to waste!

[Ninurta]

Will we be surprised that after a month, he'll be offered a haircut, a suit and an office somewhere
in the bowels of the Pentagon?!! They don't let pieces of sh*t like this to go to waste!

I may, or may not, know someone who, years and years ago may or may not have done some very similar things. The ones who are good at it, and therefore worth employing, don't get caught, so they never get that employment.

Employing the ones who do get caught is more of a self-aggrandizing move by the catchers - "see what we caught? We must be pretty damned good!". Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the ones who didn't get caught and have the real skills are quietly doing night janitorial work, and are still rarely ever seen in daylight.


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[BIAD]

....Employing the ones who do get caught is more of a self-aggrandizing move by the catchers - "see what we caught?
We must be pretty damned good!".
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the ones who didn't get caught and have the real skills are quietly doing night janitorial
work, and are still rarely ever seen in daylight.

You're probably right, whatever skills and applications this person used, I'm sure the agencies that may look at
his offences will already have the ability to do what he did. I was just thinking in regards of Frank Abagnale's
case.