"US Offers $10m Reward For Alleged Prolific Ransomware Actor"

A Russian national has recently been unmasked as a key player in the “development and deployment” of the Hive, LockBit, and Babuk ransomware strains.  Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev (aka Wazawaka/m1x/Boriselcin/Uhodiransomwar) was recently charged with conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers, and intentionally damaging protected computers.  If convicted, he faces over 20 years behind bars.  However, that’s not likely, as the suspect is thought to reside in Russia.  The State Department has issued a $10m reward for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of Matveev, under its Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.  The Department of Justice (DoJ) highlighted several alleged victims of Matveev, including a law enforcement agency and non-profit behavioral healthcare organization in New Jersey and the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department.  The DoJ estimated the combined ransom haul for the three variants at $200m, adding that the affiliates behind them demanded twice that.  In addition to the indictments, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Matveev.

Infosecurity reports: "US Offers $10m Reward For Alleged Prolific Ransomware Actor"