(Image source from: Feds convict Russians)

A Ukrainian and four Russians have been convicted of US' largest hacking and data breach scheme ever.

The five convicts have been indicted of operating a full-fledged hacking organization that encroached computer networks of over a dozen major US and international organization for over 7 years. The group of hackers stole and sold over 160 million debit and credit card numbers, winding up a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Giving verdict on the case, US attorney Paul Fishman labelled it as 'the largest hacking and data breach scheme ever prosecuted in the country'.

Corporations like Heartland Payment Systems Inc. and Global Payment Systems, which processes credit and debit cards for businesses, were among the worst hit organizations, incurring losses worth hundreds of millions.

The indictment, however, did not cite any loss figure.

Also, not all the companies hacked with the malicious computer software suffered financial losses. “Customer log-in credentials were stolen from Nasdaq and Dow Jones Inc., the indictment said, though prosecutors said Nasdaq's trading platform was not affected.”

Those charged were identified as Aleksander Kalinin, 26, Russia; Dmitriy Smilianets, 29, Russia; Roman Kotov, 32, Russia; Vladimir Drinkman, 32, Russia; and Mikhail Rytikov, 26, Ukraine.

AW: Suchorita Dutta