Alleged Russian RSOCKS Hacker: ‘Send Me to US’

The supposed owner of RSOCKS—a huge illegal botnet that provided anonymous proxy services to scrotes—wants to be extradited to the U.S. He claims to have information authorities here will want to hear.

Denis Kloster, a/k/a Denis Emelyantsev (pictured) was arrested in Bulgaria. He’s a Russian national with a U.S. visitor visa. He faces up to 20 years experiencing the delights of the Federal Prison System, although he protests his innocence.

A U.S. prison is likely better than the alternatives. In today’s SB Blogwatch, ние сме твърде красиви.

Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: Jailhouse Ladies.

Къси Чорапи Селфи

Let’s all climb aboard the Brian Krebs cycle—“Accused Russian RSOCKS Botmaster Arrested, Requests Extradition to U.S.”:

Millions of hacked devices
A 36-year-old Russian man [who I] recently identified … as the likely proprietor of the massive RSOCKS botnet has been arrested in Bulgaria. … The accused hacker requested and was granted extradition to the United States.

Despite maintaining his innocence, Kloster reportedly told the Bulgarian judge that he could be useful to American investigators: “America is looking for me because I have enormous information and they need it. … That’s why they want me.” … As administrator of Russia’s most well-known forum for spammers, the defendant in this case probably knows quite a bit about other top players in the botnet spam and malware community.

Denis Kloster, a.k.a. Denis Emelyantsev, [is] the apparent owner of RSOCKS, a collection of millions of hacked devices that were sold as “proxies” to cybercriminals looking for ways to route their malicious traffic through someone else’s computer. … Kloster, which is his mother’s maiden name … turned 36 while awaiting his extradition hearing, and may soon be facing charges that carry punishments of up to 20 years in prison. … A native of Omsk, Russia, Kloster came into focus after [I] followed clues [from] cybercrime forums to Kloster’s personal blog.

Кажи ми повече? Силвия Александрова is lost in translation—“Russian hacker arrested in Bansko asked to be extradited to the USA”:

$5,000 of damage
The Russian citizen is wanted by the United States for the purpose of criminal prosecution on an indictment filed against him for computer crimes in … the Southern District of California. Against him there are a number of charges related to the creation and sale of programs to penetrate and extract data from foreign computers.

His extradition case was heard today in … Blagoevgrad and he asked to be handed over to the American authorities: “I have hired a lawyer there and I want you to send me as quickly as possible to clear these baseless charges. I am not a criminal and I will prove it in an American court.

“I have been accused of creating a botnet and hacking millions of computers. And then they say it’s not computers, but the smart home devices that control washing machines, refrigerators, TVs, etc. [and] that I have done $5,000 of damage. I will prove my innocence and I want you to send me to the United States as soon as possible,” said Denis.

Wait. Pause. Is that really how plea bargains work? This Anonymous Coward says so:

He was running a botnet used by criminals from all over the world—and possibly [by] governments. I imagine he would have a huge treasure trove of people to offer up on a platter in order to get his freedom. It is probably [the] knowledge of all the criminal syndicates using his botnet that he intends to bargain with. [It] most definitely can be used with the prosecutors and would also explain his urgency to get out of Bulgaria.

Is there anything going on in his mother country? u/chintakoro reminds us:

This answers the age old question: Which is worse — 20 years in an American prison or being conscripted to fight in Ukraine?

And trasz doesn’t sound surprised:

Whatever it takes to escape Russia I guess 🙂

Lest we forget: He’s in Bulgaria, not Russia. Eric Russell suggests a simpler motivation:

Guys like this are full of it. My guess is that he believes the prison accommodations in the US will be nicer than in Bulgaria.

He should watch his back. So says Rolf Mikkelson:

If Kloster has information he is willing to share, then I am betting that his former associates have already put a price on his head. That is probably why he wants to be extradited to the USA.

Meanwhile, groobly fears future defenestration:

Also, until he is extradited to the US, he needs to stay away from open windows on the 8th floor.

And Finally:

Speaking of perps in jail, this is utterly glorious:

Previously in And Finally


You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Do not stare into laser with remaining eye. E&OE. 30.

Image sauce: Denis Kloster (via VK)

Richi Jennings

Richi Jennings is a foolish independent industry analyst, editor, and content strategist. A former developer and marketer, he’s also written or edited for Computerworld, Microsoft, Cisco, Micro Focus, HashiCorp, Ferris Research, Osterman Research, Orthogonal Thinking, Native Trust, Elgan Media, Petri, Cyren, Agari, Webroot, HP, HPE, NetApp on Forbes and CIO.com. Bizarrely, his ridiculous work has even won awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors, ABM/Jesse H. Neal, and B2B Magazine.

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