Rewards For Justice (RFJ), a U.S. authorities interagency rewards program. Presents as much as $10 million reward for any data that would result in the identification or location of any individual from the ALPHV cyber gang, also referred to as BlackCat, who assaults U.S. important infrastructure.
The reward provided by the intelligence-driven regulation enforcement authorities program is much like what the RFJ gives for details about high-profile Yemeni and Saudi terrorist components and al-Qa’ida members.
Focusing on important infrastructure and the change healthcare assault
The U.S. authorities takes assaults on important infrastructure very significantly. As such actions violate the Pc Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). RFJ’s sudden consideration to the cyber gang is probably going a response to the latest cyberattack on UnitedHealth’s sub-company Change Healthcare. Associates of the hacker group stole roughly six terabytes of information throughout a safety incident earlier this yr.
Change Healthcare operates the biggest monetary and administrative data alternate in the USA and was hit by dangerous actors in February 2024. The assault was huge and disruptive, with some associate healthcare suppliers claiming to lose upwards of $100 million per day due to the breach. Though many consider UnitedHealth paid a $22 million ransom to the hackers, the medical health insurance firm continues to be coping with the fallout after the assault and is engaged on processing over $14 billion in claims.
BlackCat: A RaaS gang behind main assaults
BlackCat, also referred to as ALPHV and Noberus, is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) cyber gang. And it has been by some means related to among the most vital ransomware assaults over the previous couple of years. The favored cyber gang gives its ransomware malicious code to associates, who then assault organizations for financial achieve. Associates of the favored cyber gang have been behind the assault on Reddit and the breaches of MGM Resorts Worldwide and Caesars Leisure.
In an eyebrow-raising twist, the associates accountable for the UnitedHealth heist may need been scammed out of the cash themselves. As quickly after BlackCat confirmed receipt of the $22 million ransom, determined to drag an exit rip-off and run away with the digital funds, because the group now shows a faux banner saying that the FBI and different prison businesses have seized the server. Often, after a sufferer pays a ransom, the BlackCat gang splits the cash with the associates who executed the assault. However on this case, the BlackCat determined to not break up the cost and transfer on with their lives. Primarily scamming the individuals who pulled out the heist.
Learn additionally: FBI makes a transfer in opposition to ALPHV/Blackcat, the cybergang fights again
Unmasking BlackCat: RFJ seeks data
The placement of the gang leaders and the associates related to the assault stays unknown. U.S. authorities businesses hope that the $10 million reward provided by RFJ will assist regulation enforcement businesses lastly have a breakthrough on the prison group. Group that has been torturing each authorities and personal organizations within the U.S. and overseas for years.
The scope of the hacker group’s assaults is so huge and complicated. Due to that, RFJ believes the RaaS group is probably going appearing beneath the route or management of a overseas authorities. Nonetheless, the RFJ reward discover doesn’t identify particular international locations that may very well be supporting the ALPHV BlackCat hacker group.
