Vasilyev Mikhail

Biography

2022: Arrest on charges of the world's biggest hacking attacks

In Canada, a Russian was arrested, who is accused of the world's largest hacker attacks. This was announced on November 10, 2022 by the European Police Agency (Europol).

According to the organization, the suspect was detained in a raid in Ontario on October 26, 2022. It is noted that US FBI officers participated in the operation.

A hacker from Russia was arrested in Canada

A citizen of the Russian Federation is suspected of using the LockBit ransomware virus to organize attacks on critical infrastructure and large industrial companies around the world.

It is noted that during the raid, the suspect was found to have two firearms, eight computers, 32 hard drives and €400,000 in cryptocurrencies. Presumably, he will be charged in the United States.

As the US Department of Justice clarifies, the detainee is 33-year-old Russian Mikhail Vasiliev. According to the ministry, the ransomware appeared in January 2020. Since then, members of the LockBit group have managed to earn about $100 million from extortion from about 1,000 victims around the world. The investigation believes that Vasiliev is a LockBit member. He is accused of conspiring to intentionally damage secure computers and transfer ransom claims. He could face up to five years in prison.

TechCrunch, citing Europol, reports that Vasiliev is called "one of the most prolific ransomware operators in the world," he allegedly tried to extort ransom from victims from €5 million to €70 million. Brett Callow, an extortion expert and threat analyst at Emisosft, told the publication that Vasilyev's arrest could spell the end of the LockBit group "as other cybercriminals lose confidence in integrity."

Among those affected by the LockBit ransomware virus, TechCrunch names Foxconn, Accenture, Thales Group and Continental.^[1]

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