US Authorities Thwarted Sales Of "Warzone RAT" Malware, Two Suspects Arrested

Daniel Meli, 27, from Zabbar, Malta, was arrested for selling malware. (photo: x @Illumonline ·)

US authorities on Friday announced that they had seized a website used to sell a malware called "Warzone RAT" that could be used to steal data from the victim's computer. Two people in Malta and Nigeria have been arrested on the charge.

Federal prosecutors in Boston say law enforcement has disabled four domains that jointly offer malware sales, which allow cybercriminals to secretly connect to other people's computers for malicious purposes.

The Mallware, called a remote access trojan, allows hackers to explore file systems, take screenshots, get the victim's username and password, record key taps, and spy on computer users through their web cameras,'' prosecutors said.

Jodi Cohen, head of the Boston FBI office, called it a state-of-the-art malware used to infect computers globally.

Two individuals abroad are currently detained and have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement.

An indictment filed in federal court in Atlanta accused Daniel Meli, 27, of Zabbar, Malta, of causing unauthorized damage to protected computers and other cybercrimes.

Prosecutors have said since 2012 he has been selling malware products such as Warzone RAT through online computer hacking forums and offering learning tools, including an eBook, for sale. The US government is seeking his extradition.

Prince Onyeoziri Odinakachi, 31, of Nigeria, was charged in an indictment filed in Boston with conspiracy to commit repeated computer breaches, prosecutors said.

The indictment alleges that from June 2019 to March 2023, Odinakachi provided online customer support to users of the Warzone RAT malware.