"Department of Justice Launches Global Action Against NetWalker Ransomware"
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has launched a coordinated international law enforcement action against NetWalker ransomware, which has impacted many companies, municipalities, hospitals, emergency services, school districts, colleges, and universities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, attackers using NetWalker have increasingly targeted the healthcare sector. Actions taken against the growing threat of NetWalker ransomware includes charges against responsible actors, disrupting online criminal infrastructure, and, where possible, recovering ransom payments made by victims. Criminal charges have been filed against Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins, a Canadian national, alleged to have obtained more than $27.6 million from NetWalker ransomware attacks. The DoJ has seized nearly $500,000 in cryptocurrency from ransom payments. In addition, the DoJ disabled a dark web hidden resource, used to communicate with NetWalker ransomware victims. This article continues to discuss the global action taken to disrupt the NetWalker ransomware operation.