A Russian computer hacker has been arrested in Siberia after allegedly threatening to publish bank account details stolen from the Web server of Online Resources, a provider of Internet banking and bill payment services to financial institutions,
According to Russian press reports, the suspect successfully extorted $10,000 from a New York bank after publishing 1500 account details online and threating to go public with more names. The bank wired the funds to the blackmailer in December, and estimates it total financial losses at $250,000.
The Moscow computer fraud unit identified the computer used in the exchange of emails with the bank as belonging to a 21-year old University drop-out based in Siberia.