July 22, 2024 at 11:36AM
Two members of the LockBit gang pleaded guilty in the US for their involvement in deploying ransomware against organizations globally and in the US. The gang resumed operations after a disruption, becoming the most active ransomware gang in May. The US seeks information on the alleged mastermind and has announced substantial rewards.
Based on the meeting notes, here are the key takeaways:
– Two members of the LockBit gang have pleaded guilty in the United States for their involvement in deploying ransomware against organizations in the US and worldwide.
– The LockBit gang operated under the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model and has been active since September 2019, hitting over 2,500 victims in more than 120 countries, with 1,800 victims in the US.
– Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, also known as LockBitSupp, LockBit, and putinkrab, is alleged to be the mastermind behind the LockBit RaaS and is estimated to have made over $100 million from the operation. The US is offering a reward of $10 million for information on Khoroshev.
– Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov and Mikhail Vasiliev, along with other LockBit affiliates, have been involved in identifying and compromising vulnerable systems, stealing victims’ data, and deploying LockBit to encrypt the data. They then extorted victims for ransom payments.
– The LockBit group extracted at least approximately $500 million in ransom payments and caused billions of dollars in broader losses.
– Astamirov and Vasiliev face potential prison sentences of up to 25 years and 45 years, respectively.
Additionally, the meeting notes include related news about individuals facing legal action for their involvement in cybercrimes, such as hacking and fraud.