US arrests British expert who halted WannaCry virus
Marcus Hutchins accused of spreading Kronos banking virus in 2014

A British computer malware expert has been arrested in the UK, months after being hailed as a hero for his work in helping stop the WannaCry ransomware that threatened to cripple the NHS.
Marcus Hutchins, 22, has been accused of conspiring to "advertise the availability of the Kronos malware on internet forums, sell the malware and profit from it", ABC Online reports. He has been jointly charged with another individual, whom authorities have declined to name.
"The indictment alleged that Hutchins 'created the Kronos malware' and the other person later sold it for $2,000 (£1,500) online," the Daily Telegraph says.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The incidents "occurred between in or around July 2014 and July 2015", says the US Department of Justice.
US officials detained Hutchins at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas as he was preparing to fly home from Defcon, a four-day conference where hackers, security experts and researchers share information.
"He was escorted out of the airport and never made his flight," a witness told the Daily Mail.
"He was arraigned in Las Vegas late Thursday afternoon and made no statement in court beyond mumbling one-word answers in response to a few basic questions from the judge," The Guardian says. There will be another hearing today.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Alchemised: how Harry Potter fanfic went mainstream
In The Spotlight Traditional publishers are signing up fan fiction authors to rewrite their ‘explosively popular’ romances for the mass market
-
Crossword: October 6, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
Codeword: October 6, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
North Korea's army of fake IT workers
The Explainer Using AI and stolen information to craft false identities, they are becoming an 'increasing menace' to top tech companies in the US and UK
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago