RAT Malware Allowed Cybercriminals to Surreptitiously Connect to Victims’ Computers to Steal Data and Engage in Other Malicious Activities Without Victims’ Knowledge The Justice Department announced today that, as part of an international law enforcement effort, federal authorities in Boston seized internet domains that were used to sell computer malware used by cybercriminals to secretly…
Author: Dissent
LockBitSupp banned as a “ripper:” drama on the Russian-language forums
Anastasia Sentsova and Jon DiMaggio have written about the latest drama in the ransomware world: LockBitSupp was banned from XSS.is, and as is their policy, he was therefore also banned on Exploit.in. Banned in the two well-known Russian-language forums, LockBitSupp tried to appeal the decision to RAMP. Even though it seems RAMP agreed with him,…
Ransomware Payments Exceed $1 Billion in 2023, Hitting Record High After 2022 Decline
Chainalysis got everyone’s attention with their new report. They write, in part: 2023 marks a major comeback for ransomware, with record-breaking payments and a substantial increase in the scope and complexity of attacks — a significant reversal from the decline observed in 2022, which we forewarned in our Mid-Year Crime Update. Ransomware payments in 2023 surpassed…
Maltese suspected hacker to be extradited to United States for computer malware crimes (1)
Update: The U.S. Department of Justice subsequently issued a press release with names and more details. Matthew Vella reports: An operation by the Maltese police assisting the FBI in investigations in the United States, has led to the arrest of a 27-year-old Maltese individual in connection with the sale of illegal malware on the…
BakerHostetler Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of 30 Hospitals and Health Systems
BakerHostetler writes: As noted back in December 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued dramatic guidance (often called the Bulletin) that targets the use of so-called Internet “tracking technologies” on the public websites of HIPAA-covered entities. Fueled by this guidance, healthcare providers have faced a dual threat…
Reward Offers for Information to Bring Hive Ransomware Variant Co-Conspirators To Justice
Today, the Department of State is announcing a reward offer of up to $10,000,000 for information leading to the identification and/or location of any individual(s) who hold a key leadership position in the Hive ransomware variant transnational organized crime group. In addition, we are also announcing a reward of up to $5,000,000 for information leading…