29 February 2008
A Waikato man at the centre of a multi-agency international cyber-crime investigation appeared in the Thames District Court today.
Computer programmer Owen Thor WALKER, 18, of Whitianga was charged with two counts of Accessing a computer for dishonest purpose, Damaging or interfering with a computer system, Possessing software for committing crime and two counts of Accessing a computer system without authorisation.
The Waikato based investigation was carried out by NZ Police in conjunction with the FBI, US Secret Service and Dutch authorities.
Its focus was on WALKER'S activities under the cyber-id 'AKILL'. The termination of the operation and apprehension of WALKER on the 28 November 2007 was in conjunction with 'Operation Bot-Roast', an FBI led operation targeting cyber criminals.
'AKILL' is alleged to have been part of a small but elite botnet coding group known as the 'A-Team' that developed malware. He was also responsible for placing adware (spam) on about 1.3 million computers worldwide via the Netherlands.
Malware can take the form of viruses, adware or spyware. The Netherlands is the world's third largest distributor of malware and a bogus company was set up there to distribute the adware because of Holland's superior data transmission infrastructure.
Waikato Crime Services Manager, Detective Inspector Peter Devoy, said the investigation was the first of its kind in this country.
"We worked closely with US and Dutch authorities on this investigation, this arrest is significant not just to New Zealand but the international community as well.
"Very few people who carry out this sort of offending are ever prosecuted so the resolution of this case has huge international implications," he said.
An FBI agent had come to New Zealand to assist with the inquiry and Mr Devoy said more international cyber-crime investigations were likely.
"It's a type of crime that will become more prolific as time goes on and something we're adapting to address, together with our global partners.
"WALKER'S arrest also highlights the value of the Police's Electronic Crime Strategy released last September," he said.
END