Five Russian Nationals Charged After Disruption of Notorious Cyber Crime Gang Lockbit
In a significant international operation, US authorities have charged five Russian nationals following the disruption of the infamous cybercrime syndicate known as Lockbit. The crackdown, orchestrated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK, alongside a coalition of global law enforcement agencies including the FBI, has resulted in the seizure of the group’s extortion website.
Lockbit, notorious for its ransomware attacks, has targeted over 200 victims in the UK alone, with thousands more worldwide, leading to losses amounting to billions of pounds in ransom payments and data recovery expenses. Some of the world’s largest organizations, including Royal Mail, have fallen victim to Lockbit’s nefarious activities, causing widespread disruption.
Rad also: Lockbit Cybercrime Gang Disrupted by International Police Operation
Graeme Biggar, Director General of the NCA, hailed the collaborative efforts of ten countries in dismantling Lockbit, describing it as a significant blow to the most prolific ransomware group in recent years. He revealed that Lockbit was responsible for a quarter of all ransomware attacks in the past year.
Despite speculation, Mr. Biggar clarified that Lockbit did not receive direct support from the Russian state, although cybercrime is tolerated within the country’s borders.
The US authorities have named five Russian nationals in connection with Lockbit’s operations, with two already in custody – Mikhail Vasiliev, detained in Canada pending extradition proceedings, and Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov, held in the US. The whereabouts of the remaining three suspects – Artur Sungatov, Ivan Kondratyev, and Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev – remain unknown.
Additionally, arrests have been made in Poland and Ukraine, with over 200 cryptocurrency accounts believed to be associated with Lockbit frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
A statement posted on Lockbit’s website indicated the seizure of control by the NCA, working in collaboration with the FBI and an international law enforcement task force dubbed ‘Operation Cronos’.
Europol and several other police organizations from France, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, and Germany contributed to the operation.
Paul Foster, Deputy Director of the NCA, highlighted Lockbit’s sophisticated operations, including a professional website catering to loyal customers and a marketing campaign offering monetary incentives for displaying the Lockbit logo as a tattoo. Even those with limited technical expertise could utilize Lockbit’s digital extortion tools with ease.
Mr. Biggar emphasized the success of the operation, stating, “We have hacked the hackers; taken control of their infrastructure, seized their source code, and obtained keys that will help victims decrypt their systems. As of today, Lockbit are locked out.”
The takedown of Lockbit represents a significant victory in the fight against cybercrime, dealing a severe blow to a group that thrived on secrecy and anonymity.
Author: DA
Source: Sky News
