In a recent operation, cybercrime prevention officers from the Grodno region, in collaboration with investigators, have apprehended a 35-year-old resident of Svetlogorsk. This individual had been profiting from the deployment of malicious software for several years, as reported by the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs via their Telegram channel.
Modifying Malware for Profit
The suspect had ingeniously modified a “cryptojacker,” a covert virus designed to mine cryptocurrency. His method involved embedding specialized code into free torrent downloads. Once users downloaded these files, the program would silently activate on their computers, utilizing the central processing unit (CPU) to mine cryptocurrency. This activity significantly hindered the performance of the affected machines, and even rebooting the devices offered no respite.
According to Artem Matyas, the head of the Department for Combating Cybercrime in Grodno, the hacker’s illegal earnings amounted to approximately one thousand Belarusian rubles each month. At the time of his arrest, the malware was concurrently exploiting over 500 computers, not only within Belarus but also in neighboring countries.
Authorities are currently working to identify the victims affected throughout the duration of the suspect’s criminal activities. An investigation has been initiated, leading to the filing of criminal charges against the individual.
