NZ police quiz 'teenage hacker'
Police in New Zealand have questioned a teenager believed to be the ringleader of an international cyber-crime group.
The network is alleged to have infiltrated over one million computers and skimmed millions of dollars from people\'s bank accounts.
The teenager, who is 18, cannot be named for legal reasons but his cyber identification was "Akill".
After being questioned he was released without charge, but police say he is still being investigated.
Police allege that he was the whizzkid kingpin behind what they called an international spybot ring.
The term describes the process of infiltrating computers around the world with malicious software that allows the computers to be used to collect information such as bank account and credit card details.
In this global hacking spree, the FBI estimates that 1.3 million computers were infiltrated and infected and more than US$25m (£12.5m) was illegally embezzled.
"Akill" was still at school when his hacking allegedly began, and he is said to be very bright and very skilled.
The 18-year-old was detained in New Zealand\'s North Island city of Hamilton.
He could face charges which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Reproduced from an article published by BBC News
© BBC News
The original article can be viewed here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7120251.stm
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