A 27-year-old man from Liverpool has been convicted on charges of sexual offenses and computer misuse. His arrest and conviction is a result of an international crackdown on the use of internet remote access trojan called 'Imminent Monitor RAT'.
The police found folders on Cowley's computer which contain screenshots and videos of his victims undressing and performing sexual acts. Cowley managed to spy on his victims for two years and used those private images and videos for sexual gratification.
During the trial, the Liverpool Crown Court prosecutors described how the Cowley used his own Paypal account and email address to purchase the software. Cowley, on the other hand, admitted to maliciously installing the remote access trojan on his victims' computer and phone to gain access to their webcam.
Cowley is one of the 13 suspects that were arrested in the UK and four other suspects were arrested in the North West region. Other subjects were also arrested in other countries namely Spain, Australia, Colombia, Czechia, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Imminent Monitor RAT, or IM-RAT, is a malicious software that poses as a legitimate remote access software. It has been marketed as legitimate software and sold openly online.
The software works the same way as most remote access trojan and it gives the user full control of the victim's computer. It even can access and turn off the subject's webcam light while they're being monitored.
Last November, international law enforcement agencies were able to shut down the Imminent Monitor RAT website. They were able to crackdown the distribution system and seize records of purchasers, which resulted in 85 arrest warrants, seizure of 434 devices, and arrest of 13 suspects including Cowley.
Cowley pleaded guilty to three counts of computer misuse and three counts of voyeurism. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ten years Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ten years Sex Offence Notification requirement.