A Russian programmer accused of being the mastermind behind spreading ransomware through a large botnet, was extradited to the US, a statement from the Department of Justice said. The statement published late Friday, said programmer Pyotr Levashov is "alleged to have controlled and operated the 'Kelihos botnet'. The botnet was used to distribute hundreds of millions of fraudulent e-mails per year, intercept credentials to online and financial accounts belonging to thousands of Americans and spread ransomware throughout our networks."