Lockbit Ransomware Empire Crumbles: UK, US Disrupt RaaS Group
On October 20, 2024, a significant blow was dealt to the cybercrime world as the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the disruption of Lockbit, a notorious Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group. This operation marked a major victory in the ongoing fight against ransomware.
Lockbit, one of the most widespread RaaS strains, had been active for an extended period, attacking over 2,000 victims and generating over $120 million in revenue. Its administrators, known for their questionable publicity stunts like offering $1,000 for a Lockbit tattoo, were also involved in political statements. They donated cryptocurrency to a pro-Russia journalist, Colonel Cassad, who has links to the sanctioned Russian state hacking unit Fancy Bear.
The group's low barrier to entry made it an attractive cover for threat actors, including those from Russia and Iran, looking to obfuscate their sanctions ties. Two Russian nationals, Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev, were charged as Lockbit affiliates and sanctioned by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). However, as of December 2023, there is no public record of OFAC sanctioning their specific crypto addresses.
Despite the lack of specific address sanctions against Sungatov and Kondratyev, the disruption of Lockbit's operations is a significant achievement. The seizure of servers, public-facing websites, and the recovery of decryptor keys will aid victims and deter future ransomware activities. The international cooperation between the NCA, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies demonstrates a strong commitment to combating cybercrime.
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