December 2, 2023 at 03:06AM
A Russian developer, Vladimir Dunaev, was convicted of creating TrickBot malware, which caused over $3.4 million in damages. Arrested in 2021 and facing up to 35 years in prison, he’s the second TrickBot member apprehended after cybercrime sanctions by the UK and US. TrickBot evolved since 2016, leading to significant cybercrime group leaks and disruptions.
Meeting Takeaways:
1. A Russian national, Vladimir Dunaev, age 40, has been found guilty by the U.S. Department of Justice for his involvement in creating and deploying TrickBot malware.
2. Dunaev was arrested in South Korea in September 2021 and was extradited to the United States in October 2021.
3. He was responsible for developing components of the malware which included browser modifications, credential harvesting, evasion of security software, and facilitating remote access.
4. TrickBot was used to defraud victims in Northern Ohio, including schools and real-estate firms, causing losses exceeding $3.4 million through ransomware.
5. Dunaev pleaded guilty to charges including computer fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, and bank fraud, and could face up to 35 years in prison, with sentencing set for March 20, 2024.
6. Dunaev is the second TrickBot group member to be arrested after Latvian national Alla Witte, who was sentenced in June 2023.
7. The TrickBot malware originally emerged as a banking trojan in 2016 but developed into a versatile tool used in ransomware attacks and as an access facilitator.
8. Conti ransomware, which took over operations of TrickBot, was significantly impacted following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent allegiance to Russia, which resulted in the exposure of internal communications and infrastructure leading to its disintegration into smaller groups.
It would be prudent to stay updated on any further developments through reliable sources such as Twitter and LinkedIn.