The United States provided a reward of as much as $15 million for info on the Russia-based cybercrime group Conti, which has been accused of cyber-extortion assaults across the globe, State Department spokesman Ned Price mentioned.
The Conti hacker group, probably the most profitable and cruel Russian ransomware teams, has been liable for a whole lot of ransomware assaults over the previous two years, in keeping with a press release launched by Price on Saturday.
The State Department mentioned Conti unleashed a ransomware assault in opposition to the Costa Rican authorities in April, which severely affected the nation’s exterior commerce by disrupting its customs and tax infrastructure.
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In February of this 12 months, the Conti group mentioned it could assault Kremlin opponents who fought again in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (BBC)
US Hunts Down Hacker Groups
In November 2021, the US State Department additionally introduced a reward of as much as $10 million for info relating to the leaders of the REvil ransomware gang and $10 million for info relating to the leaders of the DarkSide.
The cumulative worth of ransomware assaults peaked in 2020 at $693 million, statistics from Chainalysis present.
As of the earlier 12 months, the entire sum paid in ransom exceeded $600 million. However, the minor discount in general confiscated worth doesn’t point out that the risk is diminishing.
More Than A Thousand Victimized
Price mentioned that the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that greater than a thousand victims of the Conti gang have paid over $150 million in ransomware funds.
“By giving this reward, the United States underscores its commitment to preventing cybercriminals from exploiting prospective ransomware victims around the world,” the State Department official mentioned.
During the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak, Conti declared that it could not goal healthcare suppliers.
New FBI analysis signifies, nevertheless, that Conti has launched greater than 200 assaults in opposition to hospitals and different healthcare amenities and responder teams since its first look in 2018 below the moniker “Ryuk.”
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The chief of risk intelligence at Check Point Software Technologies, Lotem Finkelstein, said:
“Our… presumption is that such a large organization, with physical offices and vast money, would not be able to work in Russia without the complete sanction of Russian intelligence services, or even cooperation with them.”
Conti Breached 400 US Healthcare Facilities
Meanwhile, in keeping with the information and investigation web site Krebs On Security, Conti ravaged the healthcare trade all through 2020, and the group had entry to greater than 400 healthcare amenities within the United States alone by October of the identical 12 months, as revealed by the group’s leaked inside communications.
In February of this 12 months, the Conti group threatened to strike Kremlin foes who reply to Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
Conti has greater than 350 members and has been lively for nearly three years, primarily based on estimates. Since 2020, the hacker group has collected greater than $2.7 billion in ransom.
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