Arrests over $850m Facebook botnet crime spree

[Gerald]

An alleged cybercrime ring said to be responsible for losses of $850m (£530m) looks to have been foiled by the FBI - by using Facebook.

In a statement, the US authority said 10 suspects had been arrested globally, including from the UK and US.

Facebook users were targeted over two years beginning in October 2010.

A gang was said to be using a botnet to steal credit card, bank account and other personal identifiable information from victims.

Facebook worked with authorities to reveal the alleged source of the attacks, as well as identifying which users may have been hit.

Other suspects were arrested in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, New Zealand and Peru.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20693213

Just the beginning....

Note: 12 December 2012 Last updated at 12:31 GMT