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List:       isn
Subject:    [ISN] Ukrainian hacker to be extradited
From:       InfoSec News <isn () c4i ! org>
Date:       2003-12-18 11:24:58
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http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2003/12/17/technology/6939785&sec=technology

December 17, 2003

BANGKOK: A Thai court Tuesday approved the extradition of a Ukrainian
man to the United States for alleged computer crimes, including the
sale of counterfeit software that deprived American companies of
millions of dollars.

The extradition of Maksym Kovalchuk was ordered by Bangkok's criminal
court, an official at the Thai attorney general's office said on
condition of anonymity.

Kovalchuk, 25, of Ternopil, Ukraine, was arrested May 20 in downtown
Bangkok. He was carrying documents identifying him as Maksym
Vysochanskyy.

He has denied all charges.

In a criminal complaint filed in San Jose, California in 2000,
Kovalchuk was charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods, copyright
infringement, money laundering and possession of unauthorised credit
card information.

The US attorney's office for northern California had sought his
extradition.

It alleged Kovalchuk sold counterfeit copies of software titles from
companies such as Microsoft, Autodesk, Adobe and Macromedia through
various websites. The retail value of the products pirated and sold,
had they been authentic, would have been US$3mil (RM11.4mil),
authorities said.

However, a US Secret Service officer in Bangkok, James Gehr, had said
when Kovalchuk was arrested that he had caused more than US$100mil
(RM380mil) in losses.

A US Embassy spokesman in Bangkok has previously said Kovalchuk
pioneered a new form of Internet theft and account takeover known as
web-spoofing.

"This web-spoofing activity has accelerated identity-based Internet
crimes in the United States and internationally," the spokesman said
on customary condition of anonymity.

The programs contained computer codes which granted him "a backdoor"  
to businesses that installed the programs on their computers, posing
"a huge danger" to their financial security, the spokesman said.

Kovalchuk faces 20 years imprisonment and a US$500,000 (RM1.9mil) if
convicted of money laundering, the most serious charge he faces. -- AP



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