The FBI announced that as part of a two-year, cross-border investigation into the Mariposa botnet, authorities in Slovenia last week arrested a Slovenian citizen and charged him with being the botnet's creator. The suspect, a 23-year old known as "Iserdo," has not been named. He is currently free on bail.
"As opposed to arresting the guy who broke into your home, we've arrested the guy that gave him the crowbar, the map, and the best houses in the neighborhood. And that is a huge break in the investigation of cyber crimes," said Jeffrey Troy, deputy assistant director for the FBI's cyber division, in a statement.

Over the course of two years, the FBI has been working with authorities in both Slovenia and Spain. That collaboration likewise led to the arrest earlier this year of three suspected Mariposa botnet operators, responsible for renting the botnet to customers in different countries, with the largest uptake occurring in Spain. The suspects have been named by authorities only by their handles: "Netkairo," "Jonyloleante," and "Ostiator." All three are currently being prosecuted in Spain.

The link for this article located at Information Week is no longer available.