NHS cyber attack hero to appear in US court charged with computer crimes
THE British computer expert hailed a hero after halting a global cyber attack that crippled the NHS was due to appear in a US court today.
Marcus Hutchins is to appear in US court to face cyber crime charges
Marcus Hutchins, from Ilfracombe, Devon, is accused of six counts of creating and selling the malware known as Kronos, used to illegally harvest banking details.
Officials said the 23-year-old was arrested by the FBI in Law Vegas on Wednesday after attending a hacking conference in the city.
The charges relate to offences in 2014-15.
Hutchins, known online as MalwareTech, in May this year found a “kill switch” that slowed the effects of the WannaCry ransomware virus that hit more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries.
The investigation is unrelated to that incident, officials said.
Ransomware behind NHS cyber attack explained
The US treats hackers far worse than other countries do
The indictment says Hutchins created the Kronos malware before conspiring with another unnamed defendant to sell it on internet forums.
Hutchins’ mother, Janet, said it was “hugely unlikely” her son was involved because he has spent “even his free time” combating such attacks.
The computer expert shot to fame after finding a ‘kill switch’ in the WannaCry virus
She said she has been “frantically calling America” trying to contact her son.
Naomi Colvin, from international civil liberties group Courage, said they were seeking to help Hutchins.
Civil liberties group Courage warned that the US treats hackers ‘far worse’ than other countries
She added: “The US treats hackers far worse than other countries do.”
The Foreign Office said it is supporting Hutchins’ family.