On Monday, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) announced seizure of servers and bitcoin valued at $1 million from a Russian ransomware group behind the BlackSuit and Royal malware.
The move, involving collaboration with police forces from several countries, shows how global authorities are stepping up against Russian cybercrime. The gang has used advanced ransomware tactics to target critical sectors, causing serious disruptions.
FBI Lured Russian Cybercriminals
BlackSuit and Royal are ransomware written by the same Russian hacking group. The malware will not allow victims access to their information until a cryptocurrency ransom is paid. The group has attacked key US sectors, like healthcare, education, and government services.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that BlackSuit demanded over $500 million in ransom and that one of the demands was for $60 million. The incidents demonstrate the malicious use of ransomware tactics by a Russian cybercrime group compromising public safety.
Global Law Enforcement Acts
The investigation, led by US Homeland Security Investigations (ICE), involved strong cybercrime international cooperation with countries like Canada, Germany, Ireland, France, and the UK Police, on July 24, arrested four servers and nine internet domains belonging to the ransomware gang. They also made a large cryptocurrency seizure of $1 million worth of bitcoin frozen since last January year.
“The BlackSuit ransomware gang’s persistent targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure represents a serious threat to U.S. public safety,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg clarified.
Since 2022, this Russian ransomware group has operated against more than 450 victims and collected more than $370 million in bitcoin ransomware payments.
The crypto seizure targets operation marks a significant victory in the fight against cybercrime and supports international efforts, including support from NATO cyber defense, to protect the digital infrastructure. While ransomware remains a growing challenge, this case proves that with strong global cooperation, even well-organized ransomware gangs can be held accountable.
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