TechCrunch Summary (2023-06-16 05AM)

Source: Feds catch another LockBit hacker, Justice Department announces

Summary
Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov, a Russian national, has been arrested and charged by the US Justice Department for his alleged role in five LockBit ransomware attacks against victims in the US, Japan, France, and Kenya. LockBit accounts for 16% of attacks launched against public entities in 2022, according to US cybersecurity officials. Astamirov is the third LockBit affiliate to be charged by the Justice Department in the last seven months.

Fact

💻 Astamirov, a Russian national, is charged with carrying out five cyberattacks between August 2020 and March 2023, four of which deployed the LockBit ransomware.

💰 At least one victim paid $700k and another victim refused to pay, and Astamirov uploaded the company’s data to LockBit’s public server.

🚨 The US Justice Department has charged Astamirov for conspiracy to transmit ransom demands, commit wire fraud, and intentionally damage protected computers. Astamirov faces up to 25 years in prison if found guilty.

🌍 LockBit has been used in approximately 1,800 ransomware attacks against victim systems in the United States and worldwide since its emergence in 2019, accounting for $91m in ransom paid in the US.

🌐 LockBit has claimed responsibility for several high-profile incidents, including attacks against the Costa Rican government and UK postal giant Royal Mail.

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