The Canadian court has sentenced a man to two years in prison for admitting to distributing malicious computer programs and carrying out harmful attacks on private individuals, enterprises, and government institutions.
33-year-old Matthew Filbert, who was arrested in Canada in 2021, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and unauthorized access to computers. In total, more than 1,100 victims were affected by Filbert’s illegal actions.
During his sentencing on Friday in Ontario, prosecutors highlighted that Filbert’s attacks sometimes resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars. One incident involved the theft of over $10,000 from a family business.
Among his targets were three Canadian police officers and even the Ronald McDonald Children’s Charity Fund in Galifax, New Scotland.
Filbert, who resides in Ottawa, was apprehended following an investigation involving the Ontario police and the FBI Bureau in Anchoriga, Alaska. At the time, the Federal Court of Alaska had already issued a separate indictment against Filbert.
American authorities have also found evidence of Filbert attempting to cause unauthorized damage to a protected computer in Alaska in 2018, which also involved unauthorized access to medical data of employees.
Filbert’s preferred method of attack was through phishing emails disguised as resumes, but actually containing malicious software that granted full control of the victim’s computer.
The identities of Filbert’s numerous accomplices have yet to be determined, but both American and Canadian law enforcement agencies are actively working toward that end.