US Authorities Dismantle ‘Warzone RAT’ Malware Operation, Arrest Two

In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, US authorities announced the dismantling of an international malware service known as “Warzone RAT,” responsible for enabling cybercriminals to steal data from unsuspecting victims’ computers. The operation led to the seizure of key websites involved in the sale of this malicious software and the arrest of two individuals in Malta and Nigeria on related cybercrime charges.

Federal prosecutors in Boston disclosed that law enforcement agencies had successfully taken down four domains linked to the sale of the “Warzone RAT” malware. This remote access trojan allowed perpetrators to covertly access victims’ computers, enabling them to browse files, capture screenshots, record keystrokes, and even spy on users through their web cameras, among other invasive activities.

Jodi Cohen, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston office, described the malware as a sophisticated tool that had been used to infect computers worldwide. The crackdown has led to the detention and indictment of two overseas individuals allegedly involved in the operation.

Daniel Meli, 27, from Zabbar, Malta, has been charged with causing unauthorized damage to protected computers and other related offenses in an indictment filed in federal court in Atlanta. Authorities revealed that Meli had been actively selling malware products, including the Warzone RAT, on online computer-hacking forums since 2012 and had also been offering instructional materials on their use.

Meanwhile, Prince Onyeoziri Odinakachi, 31, from Nigeria, faces charges of conspiracy to commit multiple computer intrusion offenses, as outlined in an indictment in Boston. Odinakachi is accused of providing online customer support for users of the Warzone RAT malware from June 2019 to March 2023.

The US government is seeking the extradition of Meli, while efforts to identify defense lawyers for both Meli and Odinakachi are underway. This operation marks a significant victory in the fight against global cybercrime, underscoring the commitment of US law enforcement to pursuing and dismantling sophisticated cyber threats.