Evidence from the Metropolitan Police’s computer crime unit has helped to convict Robert Matthew Bentley for infecting a company’s network of computers in Europe with “adware” that cost thousands of pounds to detect and repair.

The hijacked PCs were used to attack other computers and install programs that plagued users with pop-up adverts. He was caught following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Computer Crime Unit (CCU).

As the investigation widened into his activities - he was said to have used the online name ‘LSDigital’ - the US Secret Service became involved, as did security vendor Sophos, which rushed to claim some of the credit for the latest case. Other US-based suspects are still being investigated.

Bentley pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit, and committing computer fraud. He will pay £32,000 restitution costs and serve 41 months in jail followed by three years’ supervised release, the Florida court ordered.

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