LockBit Cybercrime Rsnsomewear Taken Over by International Law Enforcement

[GordMay]

LockBit [1], a notorious cybercrime gang, that holds its victims' data to ransom, has been disrupted, in a rare international law enforcement operation [“Operation Cronos”], by Britain's National Crime Agency, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Europol, and other international police organizations, from France, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany., according to a post on the gang's extortion website, on Monday.

LockBit [1] has hit more than 1,700 organizations, in nearly every industry, from financial services, and food, to schools, transportation, and government departments, in the United States. Those attacks collectively cost those organizations about $91 million US, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said, last year. [2]

FBI and allies seize dark-web site of world’s most prolific ransomware gang
➥ https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/19/polit...ite/index.html

”The FBI and its international allies have seized a dark-web site that the world’s most prolific ransomware gang has used to extort its victims, according to a message on the website viewed by CNN.

It’s a blow to the near-term operations of a multinational ransomware gang known as LockBit, which has been a menace to organizations all over the world, including health care providers in the US...

... “We can confirm that Lockbit’s services have been disrupted as a result of International Law Enforcement action — this is an ongoing and developing operation,” says a message posted on the hackers’ website on Monday, along with the seals of the FBI, UK National Crime Agency (NCA) and a host of other law enforcement agencies from Australia to Germany.

An NCA spokesperson confirmed to CNN that a law enforcement operation against LockBit was underway, adding that the agency will publicly disclose more details on Tuesday.

An FBI spokesperson told CNN: “There will be a formal announcement and additional details to follow.” ...”

[1] LockBit
➥ https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/...tlight-lockbit

[2] “Understanding Ransomware Threat Actors: LockBit” ~ CISA June 24, 2023
➥ https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cyb...ries/aa23-165a