Lockbit receives another blow as the US designates two of its members. The cooperative actions of the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other international partners working to tackle the threat posed by LockBit will begin with this initiative.
Speech made by the Deputy Treasury Secretary
Wally Adeyemo, the US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, reiterated that “the United States will not tolerate attempts to harm its citizens and businesses by extortion and theft.” This declaration underlines that the government will not relent in the fight against malicious cyber practices and will go after those who partake in such threats.
In line with this commitment, the United States continues to go after cybercriminals. In addition to its recent actions on Lockbit, it is also offering critical resources to support victims in protecting against and responding to ransomware attacks. One such provision was in the form of two advisories the CISA and other departments, agencies, and foreign partners published about the ransomware group.
OFAC Targets Two Lockbit Affiliates
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) named two individuals on its list. The first, Ivan Gennadievich Kondratiev, a Russian national located in Novomokovsk, Russia is an associate of lockbit and heads a sub-group. The threat actor is also known as Bassterlord and Fisheye. Additionally, the said individual has ties with other threat groups like REvil, RansomEXX, and Avaddon.
The second person, Artur Sungatove, also a Russian national and an affiliate of the said ransomware group. OFAC designated both persons pursuant to “under Executive Order (E.O.) 13694, as amended by E.O. 13757, for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, an activity described in subsection (a)(ii)(D) of section 1 of E.O. 13694, as amended.”
It is worth noting that the United States faulted Russia for its constant provision of safe harbors to these cyber criminals. However, with the latest designation, the US will seize every asset belonging to these individuals within its jurisdiction. This also includes their crypto wallets and other items.
