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iTunes targeted by hackers in alleged €10million 'clickjacking' ring

Seven men have been charged over a malware scam that infected four million computers worldwide.

SEVEN MEN HAVE been charged with running a ‘clickjacking’ scam that made them an alleged €10million in profits, after infecting four million computers in 100 countries.

The scheme worked by diverting users looking for iTunes and other popular sites, and taking them to fake web pages. The defendants then collected advertising revenue for the diverted traffic, according to an FBI indictment filed in New York yesterday.

Wired reports that computers across the world were infected by the malware that the scam relied upon, known as DNSChanger, including machines belonging to NASA and other government agencies.

This altered the DNS settings on the computers involved – including both PCs and Macs – so that their web browsers could be redirected.

Six Estonian men were arrested earlier this week, the Guardian reports, while a Russian man has also been charged but not yet apprehended. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and computer intrusion.

The arrests come as the result of a two-year FBI investigation known as Operation Ghost Click, according to Forbes, which adds that the scam began in 2007.

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4 Comments
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    Mute Martin Stapleton
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    Dec 28th 2012, 8:27 AM

    Great to hear that small to medium firms could deliver 20,000 jobs however these small companies need to be paid on time for the services they provide and until legislation is in place to protect them the 20,000 jobs will be lost instead of created.

    39
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    Mute Roy Scott
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    Dec 28th 2012, 9:20 AM

    Spin the year out……could , should, would………

    25
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    Mute john fox
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    Dec 28th 2012, 9:54 AM

    3 point plan . Every bit as good as the Famous 5 point plan .

    20
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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Dec 28th 2012, 11:22 AM

    Yet you let the council increase rates by 100% which is closing down loads of business and creating mass losses in jobs then Kenny the coward ignores his promise to remove upwardly only rents. Why do people put up with these liars. Pure s.c.u.m

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    Mute ISBA
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    Dec 28th 2012, 12:09 PM

    Best not to hold one’s breath on job creation. This government is already the worst in living memory -YES- and that includes the last one. They have broken every commitment, displayed unseemly incompetence and cowardice and are devoid of any leadership qualities. They are now pussyfooting with the next €3billion promissory note payment due in February. Taoiseach Kenny is a laughing stock all over Europe. Does anyone really believe the economy will grow and create jobs under this government. The SFA is just a lapdog for IBEC. It should break away from its powerful masters and begin to see the wood from the trees. It’s very masters in IBEC have driven Ireland’s cost base into the stratosphere not to mention its role in the banking collapse – the two principle impediments to job creation. Get a life SFA.

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:58 AM

    20,000 jobs possibly(these people seldom do pessimistic forecasting).

    80-100k emigrating, no figures for increasing disemployment due to austerity, and half a million already wasting away on breadlines to soupkitchens.

    This is the ‘government’s’ economic plan?

    12
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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Dec 28th 2012, 11:47 AM

    They could but will they very very unlikely with austerity at the heart of irish policy. Just more BS from government.

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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Dec 28th 2012, 2:50 PM

    The domestic economy is in ruins. If you disagree you are either a blue shirt or in denial. I want this country to escape the gloom but lets be honest so far we are not doing a good job of it.

    7
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    Mute Emmet
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    Dec 28th 2012, 1:42 PM

    Well I think these guys should take a walk down any street in the country and see the state of retail Ireland not to mention the business parks etc. it’s not a pretty sight, I genuinely fear for the future of Ireland as one of our every growing population of ex pats…

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    Mute Chino Moreno
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    Dec 28th 2012, 7:19 AM

    Would it not be quicker to get DPD to deliver the jobs rather than waiting for these small businesses to get set up .. Surely DPD know the best routes by now …. Eh oh right

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    Mute Chino Moreno
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    Dec 28th 2012, 11:19 AM

    I do apologise for my apparent lack of humour … Or do 21 people work for fastway maybe …

    3
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