By Sharon Aron Baron
Calling all cybercrime investigators.
In a bold move to combat the increasing threat of ransomware attacks, the U.S. Department of State has announced a substantial reward offer totaling up to $15 million for information that could dismantle a major cybercrime syndicate.
According to them, The focus is the elusive ALPHV/Blackcat Ransomware as a Service (RaaS), a notorious group responsible for a series of devastating cyber-attacks across the globe.
The Department of State is prepared to pay up to $10 million for details leading to the unmasking or capture of the masterminds behind ALPHV/Blackcat.
This ransomware variant, linked to a transnational organized crime group, has wreaked havoc on more than a thousand entities worldwide, including critical government and infrastructure sectors.
An additional reward of up to $5 million is on the table for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of anyone attempting to partake in the group’s ransomware operations.
This announcement comes on the heels of a collaborative effort between the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI, and international law enforcement agencies from the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Spain, and Denmark.
Together, they launched a disruption campaign against ALPHV/Blackcat, identifying key players and significantly mitigating the damage inflicted by their attacks. The campaign has already prevented ransom payments estimated at around $68 million by distributing a decryption tool to help victims recover their data without yielding to the cybercriminals’ demands.
Ransomware, the weapon of choice for ALPHV/Blackcat, is a type of malware that locks users out of their files, systems, or networks, demanding payment for their release. These attacks can lead to significant operational disruptions and the loss of critical data.
The FBI strongly advises against paying ransoms, as it only fuels the ransomware economy and encourages further criminal activities.
To combat this threat, the FBI encourages victims of ransomware to report their experiences to stopransomware.gov and has established a Tor-based tip line for anonymous submissions related to the reward offer. The agency reassures that all informant identities will be kept confidential and underscores that government officials and employees are not eligible for the reward.
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