The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), in collaboration with the United States and Australia, announced the breakthrough in identifying Khoroshev, who remains at large. To expedite his capture, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a $10 million bounty for information leading to Khoroshev’s arrest.
LockBit has been responsible for thousands of ransomware attacks since 2019, targeting a wide array of organizations and amassing over $100 million in ransoms. The attacks have severely impacted various sectors, including healthcare, where critical operations were disrupted. Despite setbacks in their operations following the international law enforcement efforts, the group has attempted to reorganize and continue their malicious activities.
Currently, the NCA has observed a significant decrease in LockBit activities in the UK, reporting a 73% reduction in attacks since the intensification of their efforts in February. However, the threat remains substantial as LockBit continues to be one of the most prevalent malware families globally, with a network of over 114 cybercriminal groups utilizing its ransomware for independent attacks.
This ongoing situation underscores the persistent challenges faced by global cybersecurity forces in curbing the activities of decentralized cybercriminal networks. The identification of Dmitry Khoroshev marks a critical step in these efforts, potentially curtailing his ability to operate anonymously and leading to a significant disruption in LockBit’s operations.
Source: Xataka
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