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Marcus Hutchins arrest: Computer expert who ‘helped to end NHS cyber attack’ charged with malware offences in US | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A British computer expert who helped shut down the WannaCry cyber attack that crippled the NHS has been arrested in the US for his alleged role in a malware attack. | |
Marcus Hutchins, also known as MalwareTech on social media, found a hidden 'kill switch' in the WannaCry "ransomware" virus that hit more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries. | |
However, after he was arrested in Nevada by the FBI, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said he had been detained on six charges relating to spreading malware. | |
"Marcus Hutchins, 22, a citizen and resident of the United Kingdom, was arrested ... 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 DOJ said in a statement to The Independent. | |
Mr Hutchins was detained after a trip to the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas. | |
The UK's National Crime Agency confirmed a British citizen was being held. | |
"We are aware a UK national has been arrested but it's a matter for the authorities in the US," a spokesman said. | "We are aware a UK national has been arrested but it's a matter for the authorities in the US," a spokesman said. |
Andrew Mabbitt, a cyber security company founder who claims to know Mr Hutchins, tweeted earlier that he had been trying to find out where the young cyber security expert was being held. | |
"I can confirm @MalwareTechBlog was detained yesterday and FBI/US Marshalls won't tell me where he is," Mr Mabbitt said. | "I can confirm @MalwareTechBlog was detained yesterday and FBI/US Marshalls won't tell me where he is," Mr Mabbitt said. |
In an interview with the website MotherBoard, which first reported the story, friends described a frantic search for Mr Hutchins in the hours after his arrest. | |
They claimed he had been detained at the Henderson Detention Centre in Nevada, and later moved to an undisclosed location. | |
The detention centre told The Independent they only keep records of current detentions. | The detention centre told The Independent they only keep records of current detentions. |
“At this point we've been trying to get in contact with Marcus for 18 hours and nobody knows where he's been taken," one friend told MotherBoard. | |
"We still don't know why Marcus has been arrested and now we have no idea where in the US he's been taken to and we're extremely concerned for his welfare." | |
The British Foreign Office told The Independent they had not received requests for consular assistance. | The British Foreign Office told The Independent they had not received requests for consular assistance. |
Mr Hutchins became an unexpected celebrity after he caused major delays to the international ransomware attack that affected the NHS. | |
The low-profile computer security worker was flooded by interview requests, and even had reporters stake out his house. | |
"I knew 5 minutes of fame would be horrible but honestly i misjudge just how horrible," he tweeted in May. | "I knew 5 minutes of fame would be horrible but honestly i misjudge just how horrible," he tweeted in May. |
More follows… | More follows… |