Russian Interior Ministry cuffs iPhone ransomware suspects

Russia's Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of two chaps suspected of conducting ransomware attacks on iPhones. The Ministry's statement on the arrests describes a modus operandi that sounds an awful lot like that employed by “Oleg Pliss”, an entity that last month remotely locked iThings in Australia. Apple later …

[Anonymous Coward]

They can tell that so quickly?

"phones used in illegal activities"

That's an awfully quick turnaround on assessing a phone's previous usage. Can phones blush?

[Phil O'Sophical]

Re: They can tell that so quickly?

Can phones blush?

I'm sure Apple have a patent in the works.

[Euripides Pants]

Re: Can phones blush?

"I'm sure Apple have a patent in the works."

Not a patent, but if you tell Siri to f#%k off she responds with "I could but I'm afraid I might blush."

[frank ly]

When indulging in criminal activity ...

... make sure to keep lots of evidence and associated literature in your own home. You know it makes sense.

[Crisp]

"literature on hacking computer systems"

Is this illegal in Russia?

[James O'Shea]

Re: "literature on hacking computer systems"

Sure... if you don't pay Comrade Putin his cut of the take.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "literature on hacking computer systems"

well, from now on, they will pay him (or "the state", which is the same thing, really), a cut (rather larger than before), as they'll be given a choice: go to prison, or hack for us the phones of those nasty imperialists. Being business-oriented, they will take the right decision.

That said, I'm not being anti-Putin (though I am, in general). Our glorious state and all other democracies would do exactly the same.

[Euripides Pants]

Re: "literature on hacking computer systems"

"Is this illegal in Russia?"

Only in the US. The NSA must have some embarrassing stuff on Putin to get his cooperation...

[Mr. A]

"Two men, one born in 1991 and another in 1998..."

Christ I'm old.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "Two men, one born in 1991 and another in 1998..."

No, they're kids.