Two Netherlands-based hackers have been jailed for infecting millions of computers with malware and stealing personal data - including credit card details - to purchase electronic goods.
The main perpetrator, who has not been named in media reports, was sentenced to two years in prison and his accomplice to 18 months, the Dutch prosecution service said in a statement on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old hacker was given a $12,000 (9,000 Euro) fine, while his 28-year-old collaborator was ordered to pay $5,200 (4,000 Euros).
The fraudsters infected millions of PCs with the Toxbot trojan and hijacked the compromised machines to steal credit card details and other personal information, according to court reports. They also used the infected PCs to launch DoS attacks against websites.
The duo, arrested last October, used the stolen data to buy electronic goods, including iPods, digital cameras and PlayStation game consoles.
The chief hacker created the trojan, while his accomplice helped spread the malware and maintain the botnet.
Several other defendants in the case are awaiting sentencing.
