Seven computer hackers were charged with hacking by the authorities of US for spreading software which were used in the hijacking process worldwide. Among them six is being Estonians who all are arrested while the seventh one being a Russian who is reportedly missing. Allegedly, these hackers have spread software across four million computers in 100 countries that redirected users towards online adverts.

The defendants were allegedly paid about $14m (£9m) by advertisers for the clicks the advertising pages received. They have reportedly spread software across four million computers in 100 countries that redirected users through a click towards online adverts by these advertisers. In the US, about 500,000 computers were affected. This hacking first came into picture through 130 computers being affectedat the space agency NASA, which first discovered the malicious software.

US Attorney Preet Bharara said this case is the first case of its kind because the suspects had set up their own servers to secretly reroute traffic to sites where they would get a cut of the advertising revenue. On trying to visit sites such as Amazon, Netflix and ESPN , the online users were instead sent to the defendants’ adverts.

Seven computer hackers found by the US authorities

News report by Indrani Chowdury