Fear and loathing in the Mariposa aftermath

Up until now, that is the entire story. Of course, that is not to say this unsavoury saga is over.

Corrons admitted that he is not free from danger. "I don't think these guys are a real threat, but in the end it's true that they know where I am, they know what I look like," he said, noting that one of the pair lives just half an hour from the PandLabs offices.

Something similar could happen to brave security experts across the world who hunt for illegal online activity, especially as amateur cyber crime is becoming seemingly easier for non-technical people.

"The police said that these guys [involved in the Mariposa botnet] were doing like 3,000 a month," Corrons added.

"They were like some kind of advanced users, but that is it, nothing else."