April 13, 2024 at 01:59PM
A joint operation between Australian Federal Police and the FBI led to the arrest of two individuals behind the “Firebird” remote access trojan, later rebranded as “Hive.” An Australian man faces 12 charges for developing and distributing the RAT, while Edmond Chakhmakhchyan from California is accused of marketing the Hive RAT. Both are facing imprisonment.
At a joint police operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the FBI, two individuals allegedly responsible for the “Firebird” remote access trojan (RAT), rebranded as “Hive,” have been arrested and charged.
The Australian man, accused of developing and selling the original RAT, faces twelve charges relating to computer offenses, and is scheduled to appear in court on May 7, 2024, with a maximum penalty of 36 years imprisonment.
Edmond Chakhmakhchyan, known as “Corruption,” from Van Nuys, California, is suspected of marketing the Hive RAT online, facilitating Bitcoin transactions, and providing support to purchasers. If found guilty, he faces a maximum of ten years in prison, with the final decision by the judge set for June 4, 2024.
These individuals are accused of promoting the RATs’ stealthy access and facilitating illegal activities. The investigation reflects a coordinated effort to crackdown on cybercrime and protect computer systems from unauthorized access and misuse.