Marcus Hutchins, a British security researcher who helped to stop the 2017 global WannaCry ransomware attack by triggering the malware’s kill switch, has pleaded guilty to entering a conspiracy to create and distribute malware, and to aiding and abetting the distribution of malware. A further eight charges have been dropped as a result of his confession.
Hutchins was arrested by the FBI in 2017, only months after being hailed a hero for his role in ending the WannaCry infection. The security researcher said that he regretted his crimes, which he committed years ago, before he became a security researcher. He added that “[h]aving grown up, I’ve since been using the same skills that I misused several years ago for constructive purposes. I will continue to devote my time to keeping people safe from malware attacks.” Hutchins’ confession could land him in jail for up to 10 years.
Read more: WannaCry Hero Marcus Hutchins Pleads Guilty To Creating Banking Malware
