Trojan spyware couple face jail

Trojan spyware couple face jail


London-based computer consultant enter into plea bargain

Two London-based computer consultants are expected to be jailed for their part in an Israeli industrial espionage case, after entering into a plea bargain.

Ruth Brier-Haephrati, aged 28, and her 44-year old husband Michael Haephrati face four and two years imprisonment respectively, after admitting to creating and selling Trojan spy software to Israeli private detective firms.

The software was used to spy on a number of businesses in Israel, including a TV company, a PR agency and a car importer.

The couple, who were extradited to Tel Aviv a month ago, have also entered into a plea to pay one million new Israeli Shekels (£121,400) in compensation.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant, at internet security firm Sophos, said: 'The Israeli authorities should be congratulated for bringing these cyber criminals to justice; it sends a strong message that these kind of activities will not be tolerated.'

'However, it remains to be seen if the private investigators who deployed the Trojan horses on the computers of innocent businesses, and potentially made more money than the Haephratis in the process, will also be held officially to account,' he said.

Sophos says that there is growing evidence that Trojan spy software and viruses are becoming more targeted and written for financial gain.

Tel Aviv district court judge Bracha Ofir-Tom will announce whether she will accept the plea bargain later this month (27 March).