A joint investigation between Spanish and British authorities against an international cybercrime group led to five people arrested, the European Police Office (Europol) on Friday said in a press release.

The authorities from the two countries carried out the investigation since last year, with the support of Europol.

As a result of the investigation, three in Spain and two in Britain were arrested, and various premises were searched in different places, the press release said.

The group involved in the design and selling of software tools which have caused thousands of computers worldwide infected. The victim's private information in computers were stolen.

The tools were promoted on hacking forums in exchange for payments, usually in bitcoins.

Investigations revealed that the criminal group has carried out its illicit activities since 2013 and made substantial profits.

Source: Xinhua