The British computer hacker who helped stop a major cyber-attack affecting the NHS in 2017 has avoided a jail sentence in the US over malicious hacking charges.<\/p>\n
In April, 25-year-old Marcus Hutchins pleaded guilty to two charges of making malicious software, or malware.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors alleged that the malware let cyber-criminals steal online banking details from internet users.<\/p>\n
Hutchins admitted to creating two programs known as Kronos and UPAS Kit.<\/p>\n
Since Hutchins’ arrest in 2017, he has remained in the US on bail.<\/p>\n
The judge presiding at Hutchins’ hearing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, said that the 25-year-old would face one year of supervised release.<\/p>\n
However, he would be allowed to return to the UK and would not have to pay any fines.<\/p>\n
Hutchins had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.<\/p>\n
Investigators acknowledged\u00a0in court documents<\/a>\u00a0filed earlier this year that Hutchins, known online as MalwareTech, was no longer involved in creating malware.<\/p>\n He created Kronos and UPAS Kit between 2012 and 2015 but later switched towards ethical hacking and cyber-security research.<\/p>\n However, US prosecutors said Hutchins still bore responsibility for his actions.<\/p>\n Hutchins, from Ilfracombe in Devon, was credited with discovering a “kill switch” for the WannaCry ransomware, which hit the NHS and many other organisations around the world in May 2017.<\/p>\n Three months later, he was arrested by the FBI before boarding a flight from Las Vegas to the UK.<\/p>\n He had been attending the Def Con cyber-security conference in the city.<\/p>\n On the day before his sentencing, Hutchins\u00a0tweeted a message of thanks<\/a>\u00a0to supporters who had sent character reference letters to the court on his behalf.<\/p>\n “It means so much!” he wrote.<\/p>\n Previously, in a statement published on his website in April<\/a>, Hutchins said he wrote the malware before he began his career in cyber-security.<\/p>\n “I regret these actions and accept full responsibility for my mistakes,” he said.<\/p>\n “Having grown up, I’ve since been using the same skills that I misused several years ago for constructive purposes. I will continue to devote my time to keeping people safe from malware attacks.”<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Supporters thanked<\/h2>\n