Eric Crocker was just one of the people out of 70 who were arrested for this crime.
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An unidentified co-conspirator paid Crocker and others $200-$300 for every 10,000 computers they infected as part of the botnet, according to the federal indictment.
“Phastman” Crocker, 29, of Binghamton, N.Y., was released on unsecured bond and is to be sentenced November. 23 by U.S. District Judge Maurice B. Cohill.
He now potentially faces up to three years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
So, the next time you log on to Facebook, make sure that you are only accepting friend requests from people you know, and also see whether you have any malicious or junk messages from some of your friends.
Cocker reportedly helped hack into computers using a tool known as Facebook Spreader.
It worked like this: a user became infected after clicking on a link to the malware sent to them via a Facebook message.
Two hackers involved with the online hacking forum Darkode have plead guilty this week to their respective scams.
Prosecutors alleged that Crocker sold access to a botnet composed of computers infected by malware spread through Facebook accounts.
“This operation is a great example of what worldwide law enforcement can accomplish when we work closely together to neutralize a global cybercrime marketplace”, Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said in July.
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“Last month, the above-mentioned authorities charged-7819/”>shut down the Darkode online forum used by cybercriminals around the world and charged 12 people linked to the site. US Attorney David Hickton had announced the charges in Pittsburgh, and called Darkode “a cyber hornet’s nest of criminal hackers”.
