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tv   The Russian Hackers Wanted by...  BBC News  November 20, 2021 1:30pm-2:01pm GMT

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news, serve. john maguire, bbc news, devon. let's leave you with these remarkable pictures from china. it's a partial lunar eclipse — the longest lasting in over 600 years. the entire event lasted about three and a half hours. amateur astronomers set up cameras and special observation devices around the country. it could also be seen from japan, chile and the united states. it'll be 648 years until there's another eclipse that lasts as long. now it's time for a look at the weather phil avery. hi,joanna. ithink hi, joanna. i think we have gotten like to come if you want a stargazing that that will come at a price. at this time of year, if the sky is clear, well, it means a pretty cold night and generally speaking as we get on the weekend into week things are going to turn colder as the mild air that has waived many of us over the last few days means the side and it is a straight nobody for sunday so make the most of the relatively mild
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conditions across and wales. why source of cloud, bit of rain getting into northern england, north wales, sunshine and showers after a dull morning across scotland and northern ireland comic island but there will be a through showers person overnight in an ugly wind across all parts of the british isles will bust quys parts of the british isles will bust guys stay clear of any length of time in mind you're going to end up with quite a cold start to sunday in a much, much colderfeeling day. despite the presence of all the sunshine, the cold northerly will put an edge on the day to say the very least and plenty of showers, particularly across northern and eastern parts, some of which...
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hello, this is bbc news. the headlines — anger in the netherlands over new covid restrictions. dutch police have shot and wounded at least two people during rioting, as coronavirus infection rates rise across europe. there are further protests
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in austria, which will return to a full national lockdown on monday. a rally is being held in vienna, after the government announced coronavirus vaccines will be made mandatory next year. joe biden says he's angry after a teenager who shot two people dead during racial unrest is cleared of murder. protests took place in new york following the verdict. the president says it should be respected. i stand by what the jury has concluded. the jury system works and we have to abide by it. the women's tennis association threatens to pull out of china, as pressure grows over missing tennis star peng shuai. a record number of people died while detained under the mental health act in england during the first year of the pandemic, according to new figures from the health watchdog. a public consultation starts on a potential ban on single—use plastics like disposable cutlery and polystyrene boxes in england. and nearly £40 million has been raised for bbc children in need, with a host of stars and performers
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joining pudsey bear for the annual fundraiser. now on bbc news — the russian hackers wanted by the west. the bbc�*s cyber reporterjoe tidy travels to russia to track down alleged hackers. around the world, cyber citadels are crumbling. ukraine, romania, poland, kuwait, south korea, hackers are being rounded up. 0nline, too, western intelligence services are hacking back, taking criminals off—line, and even retrieving some off—line, and even retrieving some of the stolen riches. but there's one place where hackers not being arrested. . , . ., ,
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one place where hackers not being arrested. . , arrested. cash rich, fast cars, behaving _ arrested. cash rich, fast cars, behaving and _ arrested. cash rich, fast cars, behaving and acting _ arrested. cash rich, fast cars, behaving and acting like - arrested. cash rich, fast cars, behaving and acting like veryl behaving and acting like very flamboyant and extravagant millionaires.— flamboyant and extravagant millionaires. ., ., ., millionaires. i'm on the trail of the most _ millionaires. i'm on the trail of the most wanted _ millionaires. i'm on the trail of the most wanted suspected . millionaires. i'm on the trail of - the most wanted suspected hackers in the most wanted suspected hackers in the world. the us are alleged to the gang are hacking money from private bank accounts and launching ransomware attacks which have cost more than $100 million. hello, i'm looking for maxine. i am from the bbc. more russians have been sanctioned and indicted for hacking than any other country. 27 russians appear under the us cyber most wanted list. if they leave the country, they will probably be arrested. but here in
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russia, they are safe. most of these men are said to have links to all work directly for the intelligence services. but there are some who are accused of being flat out cyber criminals. and instead of hiding here, they are leading large extravagant lifestyles. we are here to try and find them and talk to them. and we want to know whether this increasing western tactic of naming and shaming hackers as having an impact. naming and shaming hackers as having an imact. , ., naming and shaming hackers as having an imact. ., ., ~ ,, an impact. good morning. thank you all for being — an impact. good morning. thank you all for being here. _ an impact. good morning. thank you all for being here. we _ an impact. good morning. thank you all for being here. we are _ all for being here. we are here today to identify and announce charges against a russian national whom the department ofjustice alleges is responsible for two of the worst computer hacking and bank fraud schemes of the past decade. yakubets is a true 2ist—century criminal who committed cyber crimes across the globe with a stroke of a key. he has and has place on the fbi's list of the most wanted cybercriminals.—
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fbi's list of the most wanted cybercriminals. with a $5 million boun for cybercriminals. with a $5 million bounty for his _ cybercriminals. with a $5 million bounty for his arrest, _ cybercriminals. with a $5 million bounty for his arrest, maksim i bounty for his arrest, maksim yakubets is the most wanted alleged hacker in the world. us authorities say it has hacker gang have stolen or extorted more than $5 million from victims around the world, companies, charities, even schools have been attacked. bbc russia's cyber reporter has been working with me for months to try to trace these alleged hackers. what have you learned about yakubets? we have you learned about yakubets? - have you learned about yakubets? - have two addresses, we know where he officially lived for some time ——
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where he officially worked, his mother's company. he where he officially worked, his mother's company. he doesn't have any registered _ mother's company. he doesn't have any registered businesses? - mother's company. he doesn't have any registered businesses? yeah. i any registered businesses? yeah. richt, any registered businesses? yeah. right. 0k. _ any registered businesses? yeah. right. ok. i— any registered businesses? yeah. right, ok. | wanted _ any registered businesses? yeah. right, ok. | wanted to _ any registered businesses? yeah. right, ok. i wanted to show- any registered businesses? yeah. right, ok. i wanted to show you i right, ok. i wanted to show you something ifound. this is his wedding video. so this is the wedding video. so this is the wedding venue. they got married at a golf course. wedding venue. they got married at a uolf course. ., wedding venue. they got married at a uolf course. . , wedding venue. they got married at a golf course-_ 50 - wedding venue. they got married at a golf course._ so this - golf course. yeah, i see. so this was here- _ golf course. yeah, i see. so this was here- so — golf course. yeah, i see. so this was here. so all— golf course. yeah, i see. so this was here. so all of _ golf course. yeah, i see. so this was here. so all of that - golf course. yeah, i see. so this was here. so all of that on - golf course. yeah, i see. so this was here. so all of that on the l was here. so all of that on the grass. the golf course where the wedding took place about two hours outside of moscow. staff are happy to show us around, but did not want to show us around, but did not want to go into specifics about yakubets' big day.
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wow, impressive. so this is where the newlyweds sit, have some champagne. the newlyweds sit, have some champagne-— this wedding is probably the most famous wedding in the history of cyber security. famous wedding in the history of cybersecurity. people famous wedding in the history of cyber security. people have pored over that video since it was posted online, and it feels strange being here, where it actually took place. a lot of people, including newspapers, said the wedding cost
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about $250,000. but i have just discovered it could have cost at least half $i discovered it could have cost at least half $1 million, and that is just to have it here. we don't know how the wedding was paid for, but if the money did come from maine, it gives us an insight into how some of his alleged stolen riches are being spent. —— if the money did come from yakubets. with e—mails and phone calls and answered, it was time to try the moscow addresses he is registered to.— try the moscow addresses he is i registered to._ here registered to. 0h, here it is. here we no. registered to. 0h, here it is. here we go- buzzer — registered to. 0h, here it is. here we go. buzzer rings.. _ registered to. 0h, here it is. here we go. buzzer rings.. hello, - we go. buzzer rings.. hello, is maksim yakubets there? as soon as i said maksim yakubets, he hung up. buzzer rings..
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hello, iam hello, i am looking for maksim yakubets. and from the bbc. maksim ya kubets's father told maksim yakubets's father told us that the us reward for his arrest has led them to live in feel from criminals looking to cash in. how do you think your son has become so rich? how did he afford a $600,000 wedding? h0. rich? how did he afford a $600,000
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weddin: ? ., , . rich? how did he afford a $600,000 wedding?_ 0k- i rich? how did he afford a $600,000j wedding?_ ok. so wedding? no, it is too much. ok. so ou're wedding? no, it is too much. ok. so you're telling — wedding? no, it is too much. ok. so you're telling me _ wedding? no, it is too much. ok. so you're telling me that _ wedding? no, it is too much. ok. so you're telling me that your _ wedding? no, it is too much. ok. so you're telling me that your son - wedding? no, it is too much. ok. so you're telling me that your son is - you're telling me that your son is not a criminal, and he is not rich? what is his line of work? phone rings. is that maksim yakubets? you seem very upset by the accusations of the uk and the us.
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we asked if we could speak to maksim, but his father claims he has no contact with him. haifa maksim, but his father claims he has no contact with him.— no contact with him. how was that? wow. maksim ya kubets maksim yakubets and his accomplice have spent the last decade infecting computers worldwide... the have spent the last decade infecting computers worldwide. . ._ computers worldwide... the us and the uk to have _ computers worldwide... the us and the uk to have strong _ computers worldwide... the us and the uk to have strong enough - the uk to have strong enough evidence to convict yakubets. it includes direct testimony from former gang members, and even communications from yakubets' personal e—mail and skype account. their cases date back so far, it includes evidence obtained by the russian police in 2010 when there are still open to helping the us
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investigate. the 2019 investigation named other men also associated with evil corp. they are banned from doing business with western firms and have any company assets frozen. the us has sanctioned dozens of russians, nearly all of whom are accused of working directly for the kremlin. and it is notjust the us. last year, the european union started to issue its first cyber sanctions. 0nce started to issue its first cyber sanctions. once again, it is mostly russians. the kremlin because the allegations a diabolical cocktail and rich fantasy. for everyday russians, the sanctions are so regular now that they are largely ignored. but for cyber security professionals in russia, they provoked anger. this
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woman is a professional ethical hacker, orwhite woman is a professional ethical hacker, or white hat. when she is not at her computer, her second love is motorbikes. like many hackers i have met, alexandra says she first got into it by playing games. everybody. they are all coming? now is our time to — everybody. they are all coming? now is our time to attack. _
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how do you feel about the stereotype of the russian hacker? d highly anticipated summit between us presidentjoe biden and his russian counterpart vladimir putin is getting under way in geneva. cyber crime is a major talking point at biden and putin's geneva summit. present biden brought up the recent ransomware attack on an oil pipeline that caused fuel shortages in the us. , , , that caused fuel shortages in the us. ,, , that caused fuel shortages in the us. responsible countries need to take action — us. responsible countries need to take action against _ us. responsible countries need to take action against criminals - us. responsible countries need to take action against criminals who l take action against criminals who conduct — take action against criminals who conduct ransomware activities on their_ conduct ransomware activities on their territory. the conduct ransomware activities on their territory.— conduct ransomware activities on their territory. the talks have yet to bear significant _ their territory. the talks have yet
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to bear significant fruit. - their territory. the talks have yet to bear significant fruit. i - their territory. the talks have yet to bear significant fruit. i spoke l to bear significant fruit. i spoke to bear significant fruit. i spoke to an investigative reporter for to bear significant fruit. i spoke to an investigative reporterfor an independent russian news site. he: was recruited. independent russian news site. he was recruited. how _ independent russian news site. he was recruited. how did _ independent russian news site. he was recruited. how did you - independent russian news site. he was recruited. how did you know. was recruited. how did you know that? we know _ was recruited. how did you know that? we know that _ was recruited. how did you know that? we know that from - was recruited. how did you know that? we know that from the - that? we know that from the documents — that? we know that from the documents of _ that? we know that from the documents of the _ that? we know that from the documents of the us - that? we know that from the - documents of the us government. maksim yakubets and both of those guys from evil corp hacking group were announced like enemies of the state. one of my sources, and ex fsb officer, told me that he personally tried to enlist yakubets. it is actually usual practice in russia. it is easier for the fsb to enlist hackers in russia than to put them in jail. hackers in russia than to put them in “ail. , , ., .,~ , ,�* in jail. the lifestyle of yakubets' alle . ed in jail. the lifestyle of yakubets' alleged right _ in jail. the lifestyle of yakubets' alleged right hand _ in jail. the lifestyle of yakubets' alleged right hand man - in jail. the lifestyle of yakubets' alleged right hand man is - in jail. the lifestyle of yakubets'. alleged right hand man is another sign that russia is unwilling to act on these accusations. he
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sign that russia is unwilling to act on these accusations.— sign that russia is unwilling to act on these accusations. he is a close associate of _ on these accusations. he is a close associate of yakubets, _ on these accusations. he is a close associate of yakubets, and - on these accusations. he is a close associate of yakubets, and serves| on these accusations. he is a close l associate of yakubets, and serves as the system _ associate of yakubets, and serves as the system administrator. we associate of yakubets, and serves as the system administrator.— the system administrator. we found businesses run _ the system administrator. we found businesses run by _ the system administrator. we found businesses run by him _ the system administrator. we found businesses run by him in _ the system administrator. we found businesses run by him in a - businesses run by him in a prestigious building in moscow's financial district. so this is where three businesses are registered. the building receptionist said there are no active phone lines but found a mobile numberfor igor no active phone lines but found a mobile number for igor turashev�*s company. after a long wait, somebody picked up. hello, iam company. after a long wait, somebody picked up. hello, i am looking to find igor turashev. that was interesting, that was actually somebody who works with turashev. .
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actually somebody who works with turashev-- i _ actually somebody who works with turashev.- i find _ actually somebody who works with turashev.- i find it _ actually somebody who works with turashev. yeah. ifind it amazing turashev. yeah. i find it amazing that he is here. _ turashev. yeah. i find it amazing that he is here. this _ turashev. yeah. i find it amazing that he is here. this is _ turashev. yeah. i find it amazing that he is here. this is where - turashev. yeah. i find it amazing| that he is here. this is where lots of legitimate businesses. thea; that he is here. this is where lots of legitimate businesses. they have offices here. — of legitimate businesses. they have offices here, but _ of legitimate businesses. they have offices here, but they _ of legitimate businesses. they have offices here, but they have - of legitimate businesses. they have offices here, but they have a - of legitimate businesses. they have offices here, but they have a very i offices here, but they have a very good cars, good life in moscow. we travel 700 kilometres east to turashev�*s childhood town to track him down. a local reporter covered the story when turashev was accused of being a major international cybercriminal.
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despite being a seemingly legitimate businessmen, then, turashev was proving elusive. we deliberately did not try to contact people facing sanctions who are thought to work for the russian intelligence services. all nations hack each other, but some allegations against russian state hackers are extreme, from out to city blackouts to attacks causing billions of dollars of damage globally. the russian government has denied all accusations, routinely laughing them off as western hysteria and was a phobia. —— rusophobia. for
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off as western hysteria and was a phobia. -- rusophobia. for some of them, being — phobia. -- rusophobia. for some of them, being sanctioned _ phobia. -- rusophobia. for some of them, being sanctioned is _ phobia. -- rusophobia. for some of them, being sanctioned is like - phobia. -- rusophobia. for some of them, being sanctioned is like a - them, being sanctioned is like a reward. fit. them, being sanctioned is like a reward. �* ., ., ., reward. a badge of honour? even if the have reward. a badge of honour? even if they have been _ reward. a badge of honour? even if they have been caught? _ reward. a badge of honour? even if they have been caught? well, - reward. a badge of honour? even if i they have been caught? well, caught in what? for— they have been caught? well, caught in what? for them, _ they have been caught? well, caught in what? for them, it _ they have been caught? well, caught in what? for them, it is _ in what? for them, it is intelligence gathering against the enemy of the russian state. fiend intelligence gathering against the enemy of the russian state. fight! it enemy of the russian state. and it is not 'ust enemy of the russian state. and it is not just individuals _ enemy of the russian state. and it is not just individuals who - enemy of the russian state. and it is notjust individuals who have - enemy of the russian state. and itj is notjust individuals who have are being accused of hacking for the russian state. entire institutions and even private companies have been sanctioned, too. i met the new ceo of positive technologies. he said he was just as shocked as the rest of the cybersecurity world when president biden accused his well respected company of hacking for russia in april. the sanctions. to postpone a long—awaited ipo. it has also cut the company off from access to many western partnerships and technology. is this a punchbag? yes. did ou technology. is this a punchbag? yes. did you come — technology. is this a punchbag? yes. did you come and _ technology. is this a punchbag? yes did you come and punch this technology. is this a punchbag? 123 did you come and punch this on the day of the sanctions? h0.
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did you come and punch this on the day of the sanctions?— day of the sanctions? no, i didn't, because it — day of the sanctions? no, i didn't, because it is _ day of the sanctions? no, i didn't, because it is not _ day of the sanctions? no, i didn't, because it is not my _ day of the sanctions? no, i didn't, because it is not my way _ day of the sanctions? no, i didn't, because it is not my way of- day of the sanctions? no, i didn't, l because it is not my way of working out stress. ., ., out stress. the wording of the accusation _ out stress. the wording of the accusation is _ out stress. the wording of the accusation is that _ out stress. the wording of the accusation is that positive - accusation is that positive technologies has worked to support the russian intelligence services' efforts to carry out malicious intelligence and cyber attacks against the us. is that something you have done? by by double purposes, do you mean you do not allow your products to be used inoffensive ways? the biden administration has also criticised the company's annual hacking conference, where hackers
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are invited to attack a mock city. the us claims that the event is being used as a recruitment tool for the russian intelligence services. is that an atm?— the russian intelligence services. is that an atm? yes, we take this atm, nut is that an atm? yes, we take this atm, put it _ is that an atm? yes, we take this atm, put it in _ is that an atm? yes, we take this atm, put it in the _ is that an atm? yes, we take this atm, put it in the conference - is that an atm? yes, we take this atm, put it in the conference and | atm, put it in the conference and ask the community, there is some money inside it, so come and get it. and do some of them are managed to get the money?— there are a lot of people came along to your days, and the accusation is that they were here to recruit for the military. is that true? will they be invited again next year or will you start to vet people who
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come? alexandra has competed herself and many positive hack days. she says they are a normal and enjoyable confidence. positive technologies is not the first russian cybersecurity company to be accused of getting too close to be accused of getting too close to the kremlin, and whilst we were in moscow, a breaking news event showed what can happen if a russian cybersecurity firm gets on the wrong side the kremlin. the founder of one company was arrested for treason. he faces up to 20 years in prison. we are going to go there now and see what we can find out. police raided the offices of group—ib overnight.
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0fficers even broke into one room to apparently access company servers. looks like a complete mirror image of what has happened to positive technologies. they are being accused by the west of working for the russian government and hacking, and now it seems like group—ib are being accused by the russian government of working for the west. it is very hard to be a cyber security company in this country. group—ib says it is innocent and there are few details about what their ceo is accused of. many have spoken to a speech their outspoken founder made which publicly criticised russian authorities for not arresting alleged cyber criminals like yakubets.
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before i left russia, we tried one last address, an apartment in a luxury part of town. buzzer rings. a neighbour recognised a picture of turashev, but he was not interested in talking if he was there. i think we have got as close to these people as we can. they know we are here, but they do not want to talk to us. it has been a strange process, almost uncomfortable and intrusive. we have been going to their houses, their businesses, but i have to remind myself that this is what they have been doing, allegedly, for years they have been breaking in the private networks and computers of companies and individuals, and that is how they have allegedly made their fortunes.
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hello. things are going to turn colder right across the british isles. within the next 2a hours or so. not to say that the weekend started too badly, in part of yorkshire some decent sunshine. further south, yorkshire some decent sunshine. furthersouth, in yorkshire some decent sunshine. further south, in a lot of cloud, thick enough on occasion for the odd spot of rain and drizzle. but much of the activities are associated with this weather front as the france work their way down across all parts of the british isles within the next 12 or 18 hours, so will introduce a much colder regime
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and the float coming down from quite and the float coming down from quite a long way north come up in the norwegian sea. never in one direction, especially in the second half of november. so that is all to come, here's what's to come for the rest of the afternoon, lots of cloud across england and wales, this gap ahead of the weather front will eventually spread some rain into the north and wales in the north of england, so bright skies in scotland and northern ireland and the rattle of showers getting into the north of scotland, particularly as the temperatures drop away. and it will continue to follow winds the cloud associated with the dying weather front moves away across the channel, then the sky is clear and the northerly affects all parts of the british isles and quite a strong northerly across the north. and down the spine of the country, a touch of frost to start your new day on sunday, they much colder feel given that this wind is from the north and it really is quite noticeable, especially if you're fully exposed across northern and eastern shores, one or two showers also running down the west, but the bulk of them out towards the east which could be wintry across higher ground. those are the best of the temperatures i
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can fine for you during sunday. yes, single figures for many. a real transition on sunday into something much colder, but a high pressure trust of the british isles, and more of the west and north—west rather than a straightforward northerly, and not as much of it, so yes, a call start on monday, plenty of sunshine, but doing nothing for the temperatures because we have changed to to much colder. and there again the temperatures if you see double figures, you will be doing very well. and that is the way of it, both by day and by night as we work our way through the rest of the forthcoming week, and indeed by next weekend, it could be a wee bit colder than this again as the northerly returns to affect all parts of the british isles.
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this is bbc news with the latest headlines. the world health organisation says it is very worrioed about the rise in covid cases in europe and is urging countries to "drastically" increase the use of face masks and vaccinations. there have been violent clashes in the netherlands over new covid restrictions there, with two people shot and wounded by police during riots in rotterdam. austria has also seen demonstrations today after a new lockdown was announced there have been calls for calm in the us following the court verdict that cleared us teenager kyle rittenhouse of murder. a public consultation starts on a potential ban on single—use plastics like disposable cutlery and polystyrene boxes in england. regular train services have returned to the dartmoor line in devon for the first time in 49 years.

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