Two Russian hackers charged in sweeping malware attack on U.S.

Maksim Yakubets and Igor Turashev are allegedly responsible for tens of millions of dollars in damages, and the attacks netted them over $3 million.

Dec. 5, 2019, 7:12 AM PST / Updated Dec. 5, 2019, 8:07 AM PST
By Pete Williams, Ken Dilanian and Daniel Arkin

The accused were responsible for tens of millions of dollars in damages, and the attacks netted them over $3 million, according to court documents.

Maksim Yakubets and Igor Turashev are accused of planting malware on computers, attacking several institutions in Pennsylvania — a bank, companies, a school district — in addition to targets in other states, including a lumber company, a natural gas company, and a small organization of nuns in Chicago, according to a complaint unsealed Thursday.

Yakubets, who is linked to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), was the leader of the hacking operation and Turashev was his assistant, prosecutors said. The two men, who were both indicted in Pittsburgh but whose whereabouts are unknown, obtained access to the U.S. computer systems through phishing emails claiming to be from legitimate companies and groups.

Igor Turashev, left, and Maksim Yakubets are accused of planting malware on victim computers.

FBI The attacks were among "the worst computer hacking and bank fraud schemes of the past decade," Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski said at a news conference.

Benczkowski added that Yakubets was a "true 21st century criminal" and the "leader of a cybercriminal gang" who allegedly orchestrated "the kinds of criminal schemes so audacious and sophisticated they would be difficult to imagine if they were not real."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...-bank-n1096426