One in every of LockBit’s alleged ringleaders has been arrested in Ontario, Canada and is on his method to the US to face prices associated to ransomware assaults in opposition to no less than a thousand victims, based on the Division of Justice.
Twin Russian-Canadian citizen Mikhail Vasiliev is accused of being behind LockBit ransomware, which first emerged in January 2020 and has grown into one of the vital extensively used variants on this planet. In response to the DOJ, members of the ransomware group have demanded no less than $100 million in ransoms collectively, in the end efficiently extorting tens of thousands and thousands from their victims.
Deputy Legal professional Basic Lisa O. Monaco mentioned in an announcement concerning the prices that the DOJ hopes the arrest sends a clear message to different cybercriminals.
“This arrest is the results of over two-and-a-half-years of investigation into the LockBit ransomware group, which has harmed victims in the USA and world wide,” Monaco mentioned. “Let this be one more warning to ransomware actors: working with companions world wide, the Division of Justice will proceed to disrupt cyber threats and maintain perpetrators to account. With our companions, we are going to use each out there software to disrupt, deter, and punish cybercriminals.”
