March 13, 2024 at 12:51PM
Russian-Canadian national Mikhail Vasiliev, 34, sentenced to nearly four years in prison in Canada for his role in LockBit ransomware operation. He targeted at least three organizations in Canada, seeking ransom payments. The US is also pursuing charges against him. LockBit, operating under ransomware-as-a-service model, was a prolific operation until its takedown by law enforcement in February 2024.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes:
– Mikhail Vasiliev, a Russian-Canadian national, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison in Canada for his involvement in the LockBit ransomware operation. He was arrested in October 2022 and later pleaded guilty to stealing victims’ data and holding it for extortion.
– Vasiliev is also facing charges in the US and has consented to being extradited, where he may face up to five years in prison.
– LockBit operated under the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, involving affiliate intrusions and deployment of file-encrypting ransomware. The operators are believed to have received over $100 million in ransom payments.
– Following law enforcement seizure of LockBit infrastructure in February 2024, the US announced a reward for information leading to the arrest of LockBit leaders.
– Despite LockBit’s reemergence with new leak sites after the takedown, security experts believe that the RaaS is unlikely to recover. Several individuals related to LockBit operations have been arrested, including Vasiliev.
These are the key points from the meeting notes. Let me know if you need any further information.