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Russian hacker indicted for 80,000-PC data theft via malware

A Russian national, Searzhudin Tamirlanovich Aktulaev, has been indicted in California for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale phishing campaign that compromised approximately 80,000 computers. The campaign, which ran from 2016 to 2017, utilized TVRAT and DarkVNC malware embedded in Microsoft Excel files to gain remote access and steal victim data. Aktulaev was extradited from Cyprus to the U.S. in August 2026 and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. AI

RANK_REASON Criminal indictment for a past cybercrime event, not a new release or ongoing development.

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Russian hacker indicted for 80,000-PC data theft via malware

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Criminal indictment for a past cybercrime event, not a new release or ongoing development.
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Etiido Uko ·

    Russian hacker faces up to 20 years in prison, following extradition and indictment over US phishing campaign that allegedly infected 80,000 PCs — hacker stole victims' data via remote access

    Russian national faces US charges over a phishing campaign that allegedly infected 80,000 PCs and stole credentials and personal data