UK security researcher ‘hero’ blamed for bank malware

SAN FRANCISCO: A British computer security researcher hailed as a hero for thwarting the “WannaCry” ransomware onslaught was in US custody on Thursday (Friday in Manila) after being indicted on charges of creating malware to attack banks.

Marcus Hutchins, known by the alias “Malwaretech,” was charged in an indictment dated July 12 and unsealed this week by federal authorities in Wisconsin.