Cyber Crime
Know About the Cyber Criminal With a Rs. 80 Crore Reward on His Head
The U.S. Justice Department has unveiled charges against Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a Russian national believed to be the mastermind behind the notorious LockBit ransomware. Known by aliases such as “LockBitSupp” and “putinkrab,” Khoroshev, 31, from Voronezh, Russia, faces a 26-count indictment for his alleged pivotal role in orchestrating one of the most destructive ransomware operations worldwide.
Since its inception in September 2019, LockBit has evolved into a formidable cyber threat, targeting over 2,500 entities across 120 countries, including the U.S., where approximately 1,800 victims have suffered at its hands. These victims span a wide array of sectors including healthcare, education, government, and critical infrastructure, underscoring the ransomware’s extensive reach and severe impact.
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted the relentless efforts of the U.S. and its international partners in tackling LockBit, which has notoriously extorted more than Rs. 800 Crores from its victims.
“This indictment marks not just a significant legal action but a clear message to cybercriminals everywhere,” Garland emphasized during a press conference.
The LockBit ransomware, which operates on a “ransomware-as-a-service” (RaaS) model, allows affiliates to deploy the malware in return for a share of the ransom, with Khoroshev allegedly pocketing 20% of each payment. Over the years, this has amounted to a staggering $100 million in digital currency accruing to him alone.
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The charges come after a coordinated disruption in February 2024, involving multiple global law enforcement agencies, which significantly dented LockBit’s operations and diminished its capacity to inflict further harm. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, “The dismantling of LockBit’s infrastructure has dealt a critical blow to their operational capabilities, sending a robust signal to similar criminal entities.”