America Division of Justice has revealed that the current takedown of the BlackSuit ransomware gang’s servers, domains, and darkish internet extortion web site, additionally noticed the seizure of US $1,091,453 price of cryptocurrency.
The DOJ’s press launch describes how legislation enforcement companies around the globe – together with america, UK, Canada, Germany, Eire, and France – joined forces in an operation to grab 4 servers and 9 domains related to the gang behind the BlackSuit ransomware on July 24.
Final yr, a joint advisory issued by CISA and the FBI warned organisations that the BlackSuit ransomware gang had demanded greater than half a billion {dollars} from its victims in lower than two years – after encrypting programs and threatening to launch information on the darkish internet if cost was not made.
A BlackSuit ransomware assault typically culminates in a requirement for between roughly a million to 10 million {dollars}, with cost requested in Bitcoin. The biggest identified particular person ransom demand was for an eye-watering US $60 million.
In its press launch, the US Division of Justice shared some particulars of the way it had managed to grab US $1,091,453 price of cryptocurrency extorted from a ransomware sufferer.
It explains that on or about April 4, 2023, a sufferer paid 49.3120227 Bitcoin after having their knowledge encrypted by a ransomware assault. On the time of the transaction, the cost was price US $1,445,454.86. A portion of these proceeds (US $1,091,453) was, in line with the DOJ, repeatedly deposited and withdrawn right into a cryptocurrency change account till the funds have been frozen by the change in January 2024.
After all, it is easy to contemplate the seizure of simply over US $1 million price of cryptocurrency a drop within the ocean in comparison with the riches made by the cybercriminals.
Nonetheless, investigations into the actions of the BlackSuit ransomware gang will likely be welcomed by the greater than 450 identified victims in america alone, who embody organisations within the healthcare, training, public security, power and authorities sectors.
The BlackSuit felony operation first emerged in Might 2023, and has robust hyperlinks to the Royal ransomware gang that launched assaults on US healthcare, and which itself was born out of the stays of the infamous Russian Conti group.
As we defined final month, Bitdefender assisted the multi-national operation to disrupt the actions of the ransomware group, as a part of its ongoing dedication to combating cybercrime – the place it assists legislation enforcement, displays the darkish internet, and develops ransomware decryptors.
If you have not performed so already, it’s best to actually try “Cybercrime: From the Frontline” – Bitdefender’s video podcast collection which brings professional insights into the newest cyber threats.
