A Russian hacker named Mikhail Matveev has been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury, for allegedly launching ransomware cyberattacks against a series of law enforcement agencies. businesses and critical infrastructure in this country.
The US District Courts of New Jersey and Columbia have now completed an indictment against Mikhail Matveev, while the US State Department is offering a $10 million reward to anyone who provides it. information supporting the arrest of this hacker. In addition, anyone involved in certain transactions with Matveev could also face sanctions from the Ministry of Finance
In a recent statement, the US Department of the Treasury called Russia “a haven for ransomware attackers, a haven for cybercriminals like Matveev”. The agency also alleges that Hive, LockBit, and Babuk are all Russian-linked ransomware variants that Matveev helped develop and deploy, causing millions of dollars in damage worldwide. The most notable of which is the case of the Hive malware, which has targeted more than 1,500 victims in more than 80 countries. Targets include hospitals, school districts, financial companies and many other critical infrastructures.
“The United States will not tolerate ransomware attacks against its people and institutions,” said Brian E. Nelson, Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department. me. “Ransomware attackers like Matveev will be held accountable for their crimes, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to protect against cyber threats.” .