A man who allegedly created malware purporting to catch out cheating lovers has made it on to the FBI's "most wanted" list of cybercriminals.
The FBI says Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara ran a website offering customers a way to "catch a cheating lover" by sending spyware masquerading as a greeting card.
Opening the card downloaded the malware on to the recipient's computer and recorded keystrokes and messages.
"These are sophisticated folks who know how to hide themselves on the internet,'' said John Brown, who oversees the FBI's cyber-division.
The agency has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
According to the 2005 indictment, Mr Perez-Melara sold the malware to 1,000 customers, who then used it to infect the computers of about 2,000 victims.
Victims took the bait about half the time, the government said.
People who bought the spyware were charged with illegally intercepting electronic communications.
BBC News - 'Lover Spy' hacker makes FBI 'most wanted' list
They'll probably find him much quicker if they start the hunt in Maryland. Failing that they'll be offering him a job as soon as he's arrested.
The FBI says Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara ran a website offering customers a way to "catch a cheating lover" by sending spyware masquerading as a greeting card.
Opening the card downloaded the malware on to the recipient's computer and recorded keystrokes and messages.
"These are sophisticated folks who know how to hide themselves on the internet,'' said John Brown, who oversees the FBI's cyber-division.
The agency has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
According to the 2005 indictment, Mr Perez-Melara sold the malware to 1,000 customers, who then used it to infect the computers of about 2,000 victims.
Victims took the bait about half the time, the government said.
People who bought the spyware were charged with illegally intercepting electronic communications.
BBC News - 'Lover Spy' hacker makes FBI 'most wanted' list
They'll probably find him much quicker if they start the hunt in Maryland. Failing that they'll be offering him a job as soon as he's arrested.
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