Today, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), announced that it had seized $6.1 million in ransomware extortionists. Two foreign nationals were also arrested by the authority for their participation in ransomware attacks on US government agencies and businesses.
Yaroslav Vasinskyi (22), a Ukrainian national was charged with ransomware attacks on multiple victims. Vasinskyi was accused of attacking Kaseya, an IT company with multi-national headquarters, in July 2021. YevgeniyPolyanin, a Russian national was also charged by the authority for conducting ransomware attacks on multiple victims, including Texas businesses.
The indictments state that the two individuals charged were able to access the victim’s internal computers and use ransomware to steal sensitive information. The FBI’s Jackson Field Offices in Dallas and Jackson are leading the investigation.
Attorney General Garland stated that cybercrime poses a grave threat to our country. It is dangerous for our safety as well as our economic security. “Our message today has been clear. Together with our allies, the United States will do everything possible to find the ransomware attackers, bring them to justice and recover the money they stole from our victims.
Cryptocurrency funds
According to the DOJ’s details, Polyanin was implicated in money laundering and the illegal transfer funds through cryptocurrency. Vasinskyi and Polyanin will be convicted.
“Through the deployments of Sodinokibi/REvil ransomware the defendants allegedly left electronic messages in the form a text file on victims’ computers. The notes contained a link to a public website address that would allow victims to access their files. Victims were presented with a ransom request and a virtual currency address. The official announcement states that victims who paid ransom money received the decryption keys and were then able to access the files.
