7 suspected hackers arrested in global ransomware crackdown

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Seven suspected hackers linked to ransomware attacks that have targeted thousands of victims have been arrested since last February as part of a global cybercrime crackdown, European law enforcement authorities announced Monday.

The FBI and the Justice Department were expected to announce criminal charges tied to ransomware later Monday as well as the seizure of $6 million, according to a U.S. official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter by name ahead of a news conference and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

None of the arrested hackers was identified by name, but Europol said two suspected hackers believed to be linked to the ransomware gang known as REvil were arrested last week for involvement in attacks that yielded about $580,000 in ransom payments. Authorities in Kuwait arrested another accused hacker last week, and South Korean authorities have arrested three since last February. A seventh was arrested last month in Europe.

The arrests were part of a law enforcement investigation called GoldDust that involved the United States and 16 other countries. REvil, also known as Sodinokibi, has been linked in recent months to ransomware targeting the world's largest meat processor, JBS SA, as well as a Fourth of July weekend attack that snarled businesses around the world.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/suspected-hackers-arrested-in-global-ransomware-crackdown/2021/11/08/f3496cda-40a2-11ec-9404-50a28a88b9cd_story.html

[sop]

1. Ransomware attacks largely target the wealthy and big corporations. We have to protect them.

[LittleGirl]

2. Not necessarily

I know someone that works for a rather small company that was attacked. They had to shut down production and the FBI got involved because the hackers wanted 2 million bitcoins for ransom.

[gab13by13]

3. DOJ is good at tracking down ransomists,

not so good tracking down organizers, funders, fomenters of a coup against democracy.

[kiri]

4. How many cyber terrorists

were caught by TFG? Turned a blind eye because of his good friend Putin?

[ananda]

5. I know. Ransom attacks are nothing compared to those..

from our own white supremacist terrorists.

[orwell]

6. I have mitigated ransomware...

...for some extremely small businesses.

I have also removed it from a local fire department, and a local water department, as well as many private individuals.

It is quite the "democratic" threat...

[PoliticAverse]

7. Even hospitals. n/t