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NHS cyber-defender Marcus Hutchins arrested in US NHS cyber-defender Marcus Hutchins arrested in US
(35 minutes later)
The British cyber-security researcher who was praised for stalling the worldwide WannaCry cyber-attack has been arrested in Las Vegas.The British cyber-security researcher who was praised for stalling the worldwide WannaCry cyber-attack has been arrested in Las Vegas.
The NHS was among organisations in more than 100 countries affected by the ransomware, which struck in 12 May. Marcus Hutchins, 23, has been accused of involvement with Kronos - a separate piece of malware used to steal banking logins from victims' computers.
Marcus Hutchins, 23, was thrust into the limelight after he stopped the malware from spreading. Fellow cyber-security researchers have expressed surprise at the indictment.
The US Department of Justice said he had been arrested for his alleged involvement in a separate matter. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has said that it is aware of the situation.
"Marcus Hutchins... a citizen and resident of the United Kingdom, was arrested in the United States on 2 August, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada, after a grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin returned a six-count indictment against Hutchins for his role in creating and distributing the Kronos banking Trojan," it said. WannaCry spread rapidly through computer systems around the world, in an unprecedented outbreak that began on 12 May.
Shortly afterwards, Mr Hutchins was thrust into the limelight after he found a way to stop it from spreading.
He had been in Las Vegas attending the Black Hat and Def Con cyber-security conferences, but activity on his Twitter feed - usually highly active - ceased a day ago.
"Marcus Hutchins... a citizen and resident of the United Kingdom, was arrested in the United States on 2 August, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada, after a grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin returned a six-count indictment against Hutchins for his role in creating and distributing the Kronos banking Trojan," the US Department of Justice said in a statement.
"The charges against Hutchins, and for which he was arrested, relate to alleged conduct that occurred between in or around July 2014 and July 2015.""The charges against Hutchins, and for which he was arrested, relate to alleged conduct that occurred between in or around July 2014 and July 2015."
A spokesman for the UK's National Cyber Security Centre said, "We are aware of the situation. Kronos is malware that is designed to steal banking login and other financial data from infected computers.
"This is a law enforcement matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further." Mr Hutchins' job involves investigating malware. Some who work in the same industry have expressed disbelief at his arrest.
"It looks like the US justice system has made a huge mistake," said fellow researcher Kevin Beaumont on Twitter.
A spokesman for the UK's National Cyber Security Centre said: "This is a law enforcement matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further."
'No contact''No contact'
Mr Hutchins was arrested while at the airport, according to a colleague who wished to remain anonymous. Mr Hutchins was arrested while at an airport, according to a colleague who wished to remain anonymous.
"We tried to visit him at [the detention centre], but he was moved before visiting hours," they told the BBC."We tried to visit him at [the detention centre], but he was moved before visiting hours," they told the BBC.
"We've not had any contact with him for 18 hours now.""We've not had any contact with him for 18 hours now."
The colleague that they had received no information from US authorities. The arrest was first reported by news site Motherboard, which indicated the FBI was involved.
The researcher had been in Las Vegas for the Black Hat and Def Con cyber-security conferences, which took place last week.
His arrest was first reported by news site Motherboard, which indicated the FBI was involved.
It is not known where Mr Hutchins is being held in custody.It is not known where Mr Hutchins is being held in custody.
The BBC has contacted Mr Hutchins' family for comment.The BBC has contacted Mr Hutchins' family for comment.
The British Consulate in Los Angeles could not confirm the detention of Mr Hutchins but issued the following statement: "We are in touch with local authorities in Las Vegas following reports of a British man being arrested." The British Consulate in Los Angeles issued the following statement: "We are in touch with local authorities in Las Vegas following reports of a British man being arrested."
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