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Symantec disables ZeroAccess bots

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 02 Oktober 2013 | 23.58

1 October 2013 Last updated at 09:19 ET By Tom Espiner Technology reporter

Symantec has disabled part of one of the world's largest networks of infected computers.

About 500,000 hijacked computers have been taken out of the 1.9 million strong ZeroAccess botnet, the security company said.

The zombie computers were used for advertising and online currency fraud and to infect other machines.

Security experts warned that any benefits from the takedown might be short-lived.

The cybercriminals behind the network had not yet been identified, said Symantec.

"We've taken almost a quarter of the botnet offline," Symantec security operations manager Orla Cox told the BBC. "That's taken away a quarter of [the criminals'] earnings."

The ZeroAccess network is used to generate illegal cash through a type of advertising deception known as "click fraud".

Communications poisoned

Zombie computers are commanded to download online adverts and generate artificial mouse clicks on the ads to mimic legitimate users and generate payouts from advertisers.

The computers are also used to create an online currency called Bitcoin which can be used to pay for goods and services.

The ZeroAccess botnet is not controlled by one or two servers, but relies on waves of communications between groups of infected computers to do the bidding of the criminals.

The decentralised nature of the botnet made it difficult to act against, said Symantec.

In July, the company started poisoning the communications between the infected computers, permanently cutting them off from the rest of the hijacked network, said Ms Cox.

The company had set the ball in motion after noticing that a new version of the ZeroAccess software was being distributed through the network.

The updated version of the ZeroAccess Trojan contained modifications that made it more difficult to disrupt communications between peers in the infected network.

Symantec built its own mini-ZeroAccess botnet to study effective ways of taking down the network, and tested different takedown methods for two weeks.

The company studied the botnet and disabled the computers as part of its research operations, which feed into product development, said Ms Cox.

"Hopefully this will help us in the future to build up better protection," she said.

Internet service providers have been informed which machines were taken out of the botnet in an effort to let the owners of the computers know that their machine was a zombie.

Resilient zombies

Although a quarter of the zombie network has been taken out of action, the upgraded version of the botnet will be more difficult to take down, said Ms Cox.

"These are professional cybercriminals," she said. "They will likely be looking for ways to get back up to strength."

In the long term, the zombie network could grow back to its previous size, security experts said.

"Every time a botnet is taken down, but the people who run it are not arrested, there is a chance they can rebuild the botnet," said Vincent Hanna, a researcher for non-profit anti-spam project Spamhaus.

The remaining resilient part of the network may continue to be used for fraud, and could start spreading the upgraded ZeroAccess Trojan, Mr Hanna warned.

Taking down infected networks is a "thankless task", according to Sophos, a rival to Symantec.

"It's a bit like trying to deal with the rabbit problem in Australia - you know you're unlikely ever to win, but you also know that you have to keep trying, or you will definitely lose," said Sophos head of technology Paul Ducklin.


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EU hints at settlement with Google

1 October 2013 Last updated at 12:03 ET

The European Commission has indicated that new concessions offered by Google could end its long-running anti-trust investigation against the search giant.

Few details about the concessions were released, but they are believed to include measures to make it easier for web users to see results from Google's rivals.

The company was accused by rivals in 2010 of squeezing out competition.

If found guilty, Google faces huge fines.

"We have reached a key moment in this case. Now with significant improvements on the table, I think we have the possibility to work again," competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia told the European Parliament.

Own logos

In April Google suggested a package of concessions, including an offer to label its own services and to make it easier for people to use rival advertising services.

But the deal was rejected by rivals, who said it did not go far enough.

In a statement on Tuesday, Google's general counsel Kent Walker said: "Given the feedback the European Commission received on our first proposal, they have insisted on further, significant changes to the way we display search results."

"We've made the difficult decision to agree to their requirements in the interests of reaching a settlement."

The deal would allow Google's competitors to display their own logos next to their services and take up more space on Google's result pages.

It would also allow websites greater control over what parts of their sites appear in Google's results.

Mr Almunia said the commission would now give Google's competitors a chance to look at its proposals.

FairSearch, the umbrella group that is lobbying against Google, said that it had yet to see the details of the deal.

Thomas Vinje, legal counsel for the group, said in a statement: "It is essential that Google applies the same rules to its own services as it does to others when it returns and displays search results."

Rejected deal

Google dominates search in Europe, accounting for 80% of the market.

EU regulators have been investigating Google's business practices since 2010, following complaints from more than a dozen companies, including Microsoft and price comparison site Foundem.

The commission's investigation centred on four areas:

  • the manner in which Google displays its own vertical search services compared with other, competing products
  • how Google copies content from other websites - such as restaurant reviews - to include within its own services
  • the exclusivity Google has to sell advertising around search terms people use
  • restrictions on advertisers from moving their online ad campaigns to rival search engines.

A decision on the case could be made next spring, Mr Almunia said.


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US websites suspended in shutdown

1 October 2013 Last updated at 15:19 ET By Tom Espiner Technology reporter

A number of US government websites and Twitter feeds have been suspended due to a partial US government shutdown.

Nasa's website was unavailable as non-essential services were closed, and the White House web page was not being updated, after a lapse in federal funding.

The US Department of Homeland Security was not responding to public emails submitted via its website.

US government employees affected by the shutdown were not able to access email.

Republican opposition to President Obama's healthcare reform law, the Affordable Care Act, lead to the the government shutdown on Tuesday.

The act, known also as Obamacare, has caused legislative deadlock. Congress failed to pass legislation to fund the government on Monday.

Workers' email access suspended

Thousands of federal workers who had been sent home on Tuesday were barred from accessing work emails as part of US government policy.

The same US law which gave the legal basis for the shutdown, the Antideficiency Act, also prohibited work "via mobile devices or remote computer connections" for employees who had been sent home.

Communications channels for members of the public were also affected by the shutdown.

US citizens can normally use federal websites and Twitter feeds to put queries to government institutions.

On Tuesday, email questions from the public were not being processed by US bodies including the US Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

"Due to the lapse in government funding, information on this website will not be routinely updated, the transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the department may not be able to respond to inquiries until funding has been restored," read a notice on the Department of Justice site.

People trying to reach Nasa's main website were redirected to a US government notice explaining that the page was not available.

Other federal websites such as the US Department of Agriculture and the US Census Bureau displayed holding pages.

Dozens of Twitter feeds, including tweets from the National Park Service for the Statue of Liberty, were stopped.

Smaller federal institutions such as the Smithsonian National Zoo were affected by the shutdown.

The zoo's webcams, which normally stream images of giant pandas, cheetahs, flamingos, and naked mole rats, were also down.

"None of our live animal cams will broadcast," said a notice on the Smithsonian National Zoo web page. "The cams require federal resources, primarily staff, to run and broadcast. They've been deemed non-essential during the shutdown."


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Grand Theft Auto Online launch woes

2 October 2013 Last updated at 06:07 ET

The launch of Grand Theft Auto Online has hit substantial teething problems, as the anticipated flood of players has stretched Rockstar Games's servers to breaking point.

Players have faced multiple error messages such as: "Rockstar cloud servers unavailable," as well as screen freezing and slow loading problems.

One message says: "Mission failed," as soon as a mission begins.

Rockstar said it was "working round the clock" to resolve the issues.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience while we work to resolve this," the company said on its website.

Console makers, such as Sony PlayStation, have been fielding complaints from frustrated players experiencing problems with the game.

Meanwhile angry players have been making their feelings known on Twitter. One wrote: "GTA online has more launch problems than North Korea..."

'Temperamental'

Last week Rockstar North admitted it was facing "unanticipated" pressure because sales of GTA 5 had been stronger than expected.

"We are working around the clock to buy and add more servers," its blog said.

But it added that matters could be "more temperamental than such things usually are" because using so many computers introduced their own issues.

In the online version of the 18-rated violent crime game, up to 16 players can interact simultaneously within a virtual environment and create personalised avatars.

It is included free with every copy of the GTA 5 console video game. According to one analyst's figures, more than 15 million units of the title had been sold by early last week.

"At a conservative estimate I would expect about two million players to log on to GTA Online within the first 24 hours," added Keza MacDonald, UK games editor for IGN.com, the video game and entertainment site.

"Rockstar has never done an online game of this scale before, so they are totally unproven in terms of their network infrastructure.

"And even the highly successful World of Warcraft at its peak didn't have as many people playing online at once as GTA is likely to have, so it wouldn't surprise me if there were problems."

Sluggish

Other bestsellers have faced issues after their servers failed to cope with demand.

Owners of Electronic Art's Sim City - which requires players to be logged into its servers to play - experienced waits of up to 30 minutes to get started and then sluggish gameplay when it went on sale in March.

EA later apologised and offered a free title to those affected as compensation. It said more people had logged on than it had expected, adding they then played differently to the way its testers had.

The previous year Activision Blizzard saw its servers for Diablo 3 come under severe pressure after its launch.

The term #error37 trended on Twitter after players were shown the code alongside a message telling them to wait and try logging on later. At one point the firm took its websites offline to reduce demand.


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Charity says cyberbullying 'rising'

Amelia ButterlyBy Amelia Butterly
Newsbeat reporter
Abusive messages

Cyberbullying affects more young people than previously thought, a new survey suggests.

More than two-thirds of people aged 13 to 22 have been bullied online with boys and girls equally affected, according to charity Ditch the Label.

One in five of the 10,008 who responded said that the abuse had been "extreme".

Liam Hackett, who set up the charity after being bullied, said: "It's having a massive impact on young people and it's heartbreaking to read."

Liam Hackett

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Ditch the Label says social networks need to be open about the scale of cyberbullying

Mr Hackett said he had seen a "growing trend" in cyberbulling and that about 2,000 of those surveyed said they were targeted every day.

He also said young transgender people were more likely to experience abuse through social networking sites than girls or boys.

Continue reading the main story

It's having a massive impact on young people and it's heartbreaking to read

Liam Hackett CEO Ditch the Label

The charity worked with the online community and game platform Habbo Hotel to carry out the survey.

The site, aimed at young people over the age of 13, says it offers a safe online space which is moderated at all times.

Facebook, Ask.fm and Twitter were found to be the most likely sources of cyberbullying and 54% of those using Facebook reported cyberbullying on the network, the survey suggests.

Memorial for Amanda Todd People paid their respects at a memorial for Canadian teenager Amanda Todd

Earlier this year, 14-year-old Hannah Smith, from Leicestershire, was found hanged.

Her father said she had been sent abusive messages on social networking site, Ask.fm.

In October 2012 15-year-old Amanda Todd from Canada killed herself after being bullied online.

She uploaded a nine-minute video to YouTube describing years of bullying that she said drove her to drugs and alcohol, all told with a set of handwritten note cards.

A recent report from the NSPCC, said 20% of children between 11 and 16 reported bad experiences online last year, including bullying, unwanted sexual messages and cyberstalking.

Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter


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Microsoft returns to CES tech show

2 October 2013 Last updated at 07:46 ET By Leo Kelion Technology reporter

The organiser of the US's biggest tech show has revealed to the BBC that Microsoft is returning to the event.

Microsoft announced it was pulling out of CES in 2012, saying that its "product news milestones" did not align with the January tradeshow.

Although it is not scheduled to host a keynote speech at 2014's event, the firm has booked meeting rooms again.

One analyst said the news reinforced the Las Vegas show's claim to be the year's most important tech event.

Others had previously suggested Microsoft's departure might mark "the beginning of the end" of the show.

A spokesman for Microsoft said he was unable to comment.

'Tactical blunder'

Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association - the lobby group which hosts CES, disclosed the news during a visit to London.

"Microsoft is officially back in the International CES," he told the BBC.

"They are taking out significant space in meeting rooms - it's actually a larger presence than I believe they have ever had.

"Microsoft will have to make the decision who the rooms are open to or not, but I imagine they're very open to the press.

"We have had a tremendous partnership [with Microsoft] going back to the very beginning. You know, we had one little blip this year... but now we're happy to have them back with a physical presence."

The company was not totally absent at 2013's event. Chief executive Steve Ballmer made a brief surprise appearance during chipmaker Qualcomm's keynote event, and Microsoft's chief technology strategy officer spent a few minutes on stage at a Samsung press conference.

But one tech consultant who regularly attends the show said the US company had made a "tactical blunder" by not hosting its own event or having space to show off its wares.

"There was an opportunity to really assert the Windows 8 story and they completely missed it," said Ben Wood, from CCS Insight.

"So, you had a show floor full of convertibles, tablets and all-in-one Windows 8 PCs but no narrative to go with them. You can align that to the fact that Google's Android was omnipresent and Windows Phone didn't really get a look-in at all.

"If you look at the assets that Microsoft has now, I'd argue that it's virtually essential that it steps up its efforts at not just CES but also other shows like Barcelona's Mobile Wold Congress where its absence has been noted."

Microsoft is in the process of taking over Nokia's handset unit; recently launched the second generation of its Surface tablet, despite missing sales targets with the first one; and is about to put its Xbox One games console on sale.

Tech titans

More than 152,000 people attended 2013's CES, according to an independent audit, with 3,282 exhibitors taking part across a range of venues totalling 1.92 million sq ft (178,370 sq m).

The event is not open to the public, but presents an opportunity for firms to host public and private meetings with the media, analysts, retail chains and other industry professionals.

Although there has been a trend in recent years for tech-makers to hold special events to launch products, rather than competing for attention at a tradeshow, many of the industry's biggest names continue to hold gadgets and other announcements back for CES.

Intel and Audi are both holding what is termed "tech titans keynote" events at the forthcoming show, which runs from 7 to 10 January.

Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Huawei and Toyota are among others hosting both press conferences and stands. Google, Yahoo and Dropbox prefer to just book private meeting rooms. Apple does not attend in any formal capacity.

'Set the agenda'

Microsoft is currently going through a period of upheaval. Last week Mr Ballmer gave a tearful farewell to staff having previously announced his resignation.

Reuters is now reporting that some of the firm's biggest investors are pressing for Bill Gates, its chairman and co-founder, to also step down.

Mr Shapiro did not speculate whether changes in management might see Microsoft further bolster its presence in later years. However, Mr Wood had little doubt this would happen.

"I can see a renaissance, particularly given Microsoft's move into hardware," he said.

"It's going to be in the heartland of consumer electronics - you're looking at tablets, Xbox and mobile phones all working together for not just a mobile story but a connected homes story, and that's the epicentre of CES.

"It's all about how these different bits of gadgetry hang together, and CES helps set the agenda."


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Toothbrush 'cleans in six seconds'

2 October 2013 Last updated at 09:46 ET

A team of dentists has created a toothbrush they say can clean teeth thoroughly in less than six seconds.

Manufacturer Blizzident uses the same scans dentists use to fit braces and an extremely precise 3D printer to create a brush for each individual customer.

Each brush contains about 400 soft bristles and requires the wearer to grind their teeth in order to clean.

Its makers say it eliminates brushing errors that people typically make, but experts say more research is needed.

The technology comes at a price - a customer's first brush, which will last for a year, costs 299 euros ($405; £250).

Continue reading the main story

It's not what you use, it's how you brush"

End Quote Prof Damien Walmsley British Dental Association

Subsequent brushes are cheaper, and old ones can be reconditioned for less than 100 euros, the company says.

"Because you are brushing all your teeth at the same time, you are brushing extremely quickly," the company says.

"You brush all the difficult-to-reach and interdental regions without even having to think about it."

'Tooth-cleaning twig'

The typical toothbrush has long been considered fit for purpose by most people - but there have been several attempts to reinvent its design.

One recent example, from a former student of New York's School of Visual Arts, took inspiration from the traditional miswak stick, a "tooth-cleaning twig" used mainly in the Middle East and parts of Asia.

The miswak stick - which grows on a Salvadora persica tree - is used by biting off a small part of the stick for each use, exposing a fresh set of bristles.

But speaking about the Blizzident concept, Prof Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said the key concern must always be safety.

"It's something out of the ordinary, a different approach," he told the BBC.

"It's not what you use, it's how you brush, it's your technique. It needs to be checked that it's completely safe."


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'Iran president' tweets Twitter head

2 October 2013 Last updated at 09:57 ET By Joe Miller BBC News

A Twitter account used by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has exchanged tweets with Twitter's chairman, fuelling speculation Iran's social media ban might be lifted.

Jack Dorsey tweeted the account on Tuesday, asking: "Are citizens of Iran able to read your tweets?"

The reply said he was working to ensure they would "comfortably b able 2 access all info globally as is their right".

Mr Dorsey replied: "Please let us know how we can help to make it a reality."

Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are banned in Iran, although many Iranians bypass restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs).

Continue reading the main story

The exchange of tweets between Hassan Rouhani and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has caused much speculation.

But does this mean that social media will be unblocked in Iran soon? The short answer is not necessarily.

Mr Rouhani's preferred language on Twitter is English, not Farsi. He seems more eager to engage with the outside world than send a message back home.

And here lies the contradiction that most observers, including Iranian citizens, seem willing to ignore.

While President Rouhani and his government ministers are using Twitter and Facebook, access to social networking sites is banned for Iranian citizens.

We will have to wait to see how much of Mr Rouhani's rhetoric results in action. He will certainly have tough days ahead if he is to prioritise his promise of free access to the internet.

Authorship debate

Iran's new administration, which came to power in August, has taken to social media, using it as a diplomatic tool to engage with the rest of the world.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has an active Facebook page, as does Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh.

Mr Rouhani, whose campaign slogan was "moderation and wisdom", has had a presence on Twitter since running for election.

He made headlines for apparently posting a New Year message to Iranian Jews, and for chronicling his recent groundbreaking telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama.

But there has been some confusion over who is actually operating Mr Rouhani's Twitter account.

The president's Twitter handle has not been authenticated by Twitter, which puts a blue tick on profiles it confirms are genuine.

After Mr Rouhani's Jewish New Year tweet, his office told reporters that the account was controlled by those close to the president but that he did not personally author the tweets.

The BBC's Persian service said that exclusive pictures and news alerts tweeted by Mr Rouhani's account suggested it was run by the people in close proximity to Iran's president.

Critics have claimed Iran's reformist politicians are being intentionally vague about who controls their social media accounts, so they can disavow messages that anger hardliners.

Towards reform

The Iranian president has previously voiced his opposition to Iran's internet censorship, but does not have the lone authority to lift the ban.

Iranians were briefly granted access to Facebook and Twitter last month, but authorities claimed the incident was a technical glitch.

However recent developments have indicated that Iranian authorities are easing their grip on internet censorship.

Iranians accessing a filtered website without using a VPN used to be confronted with a message notifying them that the site had been filtered for "criminal" content.

Now, all surfers get is an index page with links to domestic websites and a "no access" message.


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US rethinks take-off gadget ban

2 October 2013 Last updated at 10:04 ET

The US air travel regulator has taken a step closer to allowing tablets, e-book readers and other gadgets to be used during take-offs and landings.

A special committee set up by the Federal Aviation Administration has recommended lifting a ban preventing the devices being used in aircraft when below 10,000ft (3,000m).

However, it added that larger items - such as laptops and DVD players - should still be stowed away.

The FAA now plans to review the report.

Use of the devices is currently restricted in US airspace because there had been fears that their wi-fi, Bluetooth and other radio chips might cause problems for planes' navigation equipment.

However, the committee said newer planes - which are designed to be resistant to electronic interference in order to be able to offer their own wi-fi networks - should not be at risk.

But it indicated that older aircraft might still have to pass a test to demonstrate their cockpit readouts would not be affected.

Flights might also be required to order passengers to shut down the devices in poor weather to ensure that malfunctioning gadgets, which can emit a stronger than normal signal, do not interfere with guidance systems relied on to locate runways when visibility is poor.

Even if the FAA accepts the recommendations, passengers would still be prevented from making calls or accessing the internet via a network other than the aircraft's own wi-fi system.

This is because the actions are governed by another organisation - the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - which banned them on the grounds they might interfere with equipment on the ground.

However, the Wall Street Journal reported that a representative from Amazon who sat on the committee said it had urged the two regulators to work together to resolve this issue.

The FAA itself could not be reached for comment because it is involved in the US government shutdown caused by Congress's failure to agree a new budget.

Rules on the use of electronic devices have already started to be relaxed in the UK.

In July, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) began allowing British Airways passengers to switch on their mobile phones and other devices just after landing.

However, a ban on their use during take-off remains in force.


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FBI arrests Silk Road site suspect

2 October 2013 Last updated at 12:42 ET

The FBI has said it has arrested the suspected operator of the Silk Road - a clandestine online marketplace for drugs and other illegal items.

A spokeswoman said that Ross William Ulbricht was arrested "without incident" by its agents at a public library in San Francisco on Tuesday.

She added he had been charged with conspiracy to traffic narcotics.

The FBI has also seized approximately $3.6m (£2.2m) worth of bitcoins - a virtual currency.

The agency described it as the biggest Bitcoin seizure to date.

The Silk Road itself is now offline - those trying to access it are presented with a notice saying the site has also been seized.

Users had previously only been able to access the service through Tor - an anonymous web browsing system which requires special software.

"From in or about January 2011, up to and including September 2013, the Silk Road Hidden Website... has served as an online marketplace where illegal drugs and other illicit goods and services have been regularly bought and sold by the site's users," court papers filed in the Southern District of New York state.

"The complainant further alleges, in part, that the Silk Road Hidden Website is designed to facilitate the illicit commerce hosted on the site by providing anonymity to its users, by operating on what is known as The Onion Router or Tor network... and by requiring all transactions to be paid in bitcoins, an electronic currency designed to be as anonymous as cash."

It adds that Mr Ulbricht - who is alleged to have gone by the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts - had generated sales of more than $1.2bn via the Silk Road, and had been involved in a money laundering operation to hide the activity.

Blackmail

A second document alleges that private communications recovered from the Silk Road's computer server suggested the suspect had been willing to pursue violent means to defend his interests.

It said that messages sent in March and April indicated he had "solicited a murder-for-hire" of a Canadian Silk Road user nicknamed FriendlyChemist who had tried to extort money by threatening to release the identities of thousands of the site's users.

Subsequent messages indicated he had been sent a photograph of the victim after paying $150,000 to have the blackmailer killed.

"I've received the picture and deleted it. Thank you again for your swift action," Mr Ulbricht is alleged to have written to an assassin.

However, the court documents note that Canadian law enforcers have said there was no record of a homicide taking place in White Rock, British Columbia at the time.

Publicity drive

The court documents described Mr Ulbricht, 29, as a former physics student at the University of Texas, who had gone on to study at the University of Pennsylvania between 2006 and 2010.

It was here, according to Mr Ulbricht's LinkedIn profile, as quoted by court documents, that his "'goals' subsequently 'shifted'".

He wrote on the social network that he had wanted to "give people a first-hand experience of what it would be like to live in a world without the systemic use of force" by "institutions and governments".

Investigators said Mr Ulbricht then went on to "buy out" Silk Road, which had already been set up by someone else.

He then publicised the service as a potential marketplace for drugs by posting messages on other sites.

In one such message, a user believed to be Mr Ulbricht allegedly said: "Has anyone seen Silk Road yet? It's kind of like an anonymous Amazon.com."

Investigators said he used the same channels months later to recruit help - starting with a search for an "IT pro in the Bitcoin community".

The FBI said Mr Ulbricht would appear in San Francisco federal court later this Wednesday.

In addition to the narcotics trafficking allegation he also faces charges of computer hacking conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to court filings.

'Shock and disbelief'

Visitors to the discussion site Reddit have reacted to the news on a forum dedicated to Silk Road.

"I'm still in a bit of shock and disbelief," wrote one.

Others expressed anger that money they said they had deposited with the site would now be seized.

Some speculated that copycat sites were likely to appear soon.


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