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'Blackshades' webcam spying ring leader gets over four years in prison
A year and a half following his arrest, the leader of the 'Blackshades' hacking ring is going behind bars. An American judge has sentenced Alex Yucel to 57 months (4.75 years) in prison after he pled guilty to charges that he distributed remote access malware to "thousands" of crooks, who used it for everything from swiping passwords to spying on women through their webcams. The decision is proof that this snooping is a "serious crime worthy of a serious punishment," the judge says. It's not the stiffest penalty possible -- prosecutors wanted Yucel to serve up to 7.5 years, and he likely got a break by promising that he wouldn't appeal a sentence under 7.25 years. Still, it's safe to say that his days of coding intrusive software are over. [Image credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew]
Leader of webcam spying ring 'Blackshades' pleads guilty
The Blackshades spying hack group may have come crashing down with a bang last year, but its alleged leader is going considerably more quietly. Alex Yucel has pleaded guilty to charges that he distributed Blackshades' remote control tool, which let creeps eavesdrop on webcams, track keyboard strokes and hold computers for ransom. Whether or not he faces a stiff penalty is still up in the air, however. Sentencing isn't until May 22nd, but Yucel has already said he won't appeal if he gets less than 7.25 years in prison. The court could easily throw the book at Yucel given that Blackshades violated the privacy of half a million people, but it may not be eager to spark a prolonged fight. [Image credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images]
