A CYBER hacking tool that allowed criminals to take full control of victims’ computers is no longer available thanks to an operation led by the South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit.

The Luminosity Link RAT (a Remote Access Trojan) enabled hackers to connect to a victim’s machine undetected.

They could then disable anti-virus and anti-malware software, steal data and passwords and watch victims via their webcams.

Detective inspector Ed Heath, head of the South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit, said: “The sale and deployment of this hacking tool were uncovered following a single arrest and the subsequent forensic examination of the computer.

“More than a year’s complex work with international policing partners led us to identify a large number of offenders.”

The RAT cost as little as £30 and users needed little technical knowledge to deploy it.

Four properties in Wiltshire were searched by police in Chippenham, Warminster and Swindon.