A Russian hacker has been arrested and charged for allegedly deploying malicious software to dozens of computers and launching cyberattacks against multiple businesses in the United States and abroad.
Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov, 20, of the Russian-controlled Chechen Republic, was arrested and charged in Arizona on June 15 with conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to intentionally damage protected computers and to transmit ransom demands, according to the Department of Justice.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years behind bars on the first charge and a maximum penalty of five years on the second charge.
Both charges are also punishable by a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest….