Securities Industry Commentator by Bill Singer ESQ

[D]urachinsky is alleged from 2003 through Jan. 20, 2017, to have orchestrated a scheme to access thousands of protected computers owned by individuals, companies, schools, a police department, and the government, including one owned by a subsidiary of the U.S. Department of Energy.  He is alleged to have developed computer malware later named "Fruitfly" that he installed on computers and that enabled him to control each computer by accessing stored data, uploading files, taking and downloading screenshots, logging a user's keystrokes, and turning on the camera and microphone to surreptitiously record images and audio.  

As alleged in the indictment, Durachinsky used the malware to steal the personal data of victims, including their logon credentials, tax records, medical records, photographs, banking records, Internet searches, and potentially embarrassing communications.  According to the indictment, Durachinsky used stolen logon credentials to access and download information from third-party websites. 

Durachinsky is further alleged to have watched and listened to victims without their knowledge or permission and intercepted oral communications taking place in the room where the infected computer was located.  In some cases, the malware alerted Durachinsky if a user typed words associated with pornography.  According to the indictment, Durachinsky saved millions of images and often kept detailed notes of what he saw. 

• Securities Industry Commentator
• Bill Singer