Hackers all have different intentions—some
are committed to making computer networks more secure, while some are more
interested in exploiting system vulnerabilities. Many hackers fit into one of
these two categories, though some do dance between the two.
However, there is a special subgroup
of hackers: those who make the FBI’s Cyber’s Most Wanted list. These
individuals give a whole new meaning to “black hat” hacking. The nature of
their crimes is such that the U.S. has mobilized all law enforcement agencies
against them in an attempt to bring these hackers to justice.
For the next few weeks, we will be
counting down the 10 most wanted hackers by the FBI.
This week, we begin with number 10…
CARLOS
ENRIQUE PEREZ-MELARA:
A former San Diego college student,
Perez-Melara was originally indicted in 2005 for 35 counts of
manufacturing, advertising and sending an electronic interception program; unlawfully
intercepting electronic communication; and disclosing said communication to
other parties for financial gain, among other things. Each count comes with a
sentence of at most five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. He
therefore faces a maximum sentence of 175 years and $8.75 million in fines.
Perez-Melara is
responsible for creating Lover
Spy – a website that advertised a
way for customers to catch a cheating partner.
For $89, customers were able to purchase a copy of the “Lover
Spy” program. They would then send a seemingly innocuous e-card to an intended
victim and upon opening said card, the victim would unknowingly download
spyware hidden deep within the greeting.
The program was designed “with stealth in mind,” claiming
that it would be impossible to detect by 99.9 percent of users. Once installed,
Lover Spy sent regular reports of the victim’s online activities, including
emails, passwords, chat messages and online purchase record, to the customer
via the use of a keylogger. The program even gave customers the ability to
remotely control the victim’s computer, such as by altering files or turning on
the webcam.
In all, 1,000 customers purchased the program, who then sent
infected e-cards to 2,000 people. It was ultimately determined that about half
of these intended victims were infected by the Lover Spy program. At the time,
antivirus software didn’t recognize Lover Spy as dangerous, so it let the
malicious program through. But the FBI eventually caught up with its developer,
executing a search warrant of Perez-Melara’s apartment in October of 2003.
After
his indictment in 2005, Perez-Melara failed to show up for his court date and
has been on the run ever since.
In the meantime, the FBI has kept busy. Four other
individuals have been indicted by a federal jury on two counts of assisting
Perez-Melara to unlawfully intercept electronic communication and unlawfully
gain access to the victims’ computers. A number of customers have also been
prosecuted in cities including Charlotte, NC; Honolulu; and Dallas, with
prosecutions in other locations going forward.
According to the FBI, all victims of Lover Spy have been
notified.
