• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • COVID-19 Update
  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Project of the Week
  • Latest News
  • About Us
    SEARCH
IT Infrastructure, Network Security, News

Notorious Ransomware Gang REvil Reportedly Taken Down By Russian Authorities

Russia's FSB says it arrested more than a dozen members of the REvil ransomware operation and seized nearly $7 million in assets.

January 14, 2022 Zachary Comeau Leave a Comment

REvil Ransomware arrest
Adobe Stock/ MASHKA

Russia says it has shut down the REvil ransomware gang, arrested several individuals and seized a total of about $7 million from the well-organized cybercrime operation that has plagued businesses in the U.S. and abroad for years.

In a press release, the FSB, Russia’s principal security agency, says it carried out the operation at the behest of the U.S.

A total of 14 members of the criminal operation were arrested after a raid on 25 addresses. Over 426 million rubles, $600,000, €500,000 and computer equipment ad cryptocurrency wallets used to carryout the crimes were seized, according to the FSB.

In addition, 20 luxury cars purchased with the proceeds of the ransomware operations were also taken by the FSB, the agency says. U.S. law enforcement was notified of the operation.

“The basis for the search activities was the appeal of the competent U.S. authorities, who reported on the leader of the criminal community and his involvement in encroachments on the information resources of foreign high-tech companies by introducing malicious software, encrypting information and extorting money for its decryption,” reads the FSB’s statement, which was translated into English.

REvil is, of course, one of the more notorious ransomware gangs in history and was responsible for the July 4 weekend attack that leveraged the Kaseya VSA platform and the software provider’s network of managed service providers to deploy ransomware en masse.

Related: Microsoft: Russia Dominates Nation-State Cyberattacks

The group has also been linked to DarkSide, the ransomware operation that led to the shut down of the Colonial Pipeline in the spring of 2021.

The group went dark for a short period after that attack, but had since resurfaced on dark web forums. However, the group has attracted the attention of law enforcement to warrant a significant crackdown of its operations.

That crackdown includes a November arrest by U.S. authorities of a Ukrainian and Russian national alleged to have conducted REvil ransomware attacks, including the one involving Kaseya. The U.S. also seized $6.1 million related to the ransomware operation.

According to Reuters, Russian television was airing footage of agents raiding homes, arresting people and seizing assets from the alleged operators.

Combatting Russia-based ransomware operators has been a priority of U.S. officials of late, with cybercrime the topic of high-level discussions between the country’s officials over the last year.

Cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks listed REvil as one of —if not the most—active ransomware groups these days, pulling in an average ransom payment of about $2.25 million over the first half of 2021.

The group helped popularize the double extortion tactic by which ransomware gangs threaten to release stolen information if the ransom isn’t paid.

An analysis of the group’s targets by security firm Trend Micro reveals that the overwhelming majority of REvil’s targets are based in the U.S., while it is thought that the group avoids targeting Russian-speaking countries and CIS states.

 

Tagged With: ransomware, REvil

Related Content:

  • Microsoft May 2022 Security Update Some May 2022 Microsoft Security Updates Are Leading…
  • Microsoft Viva Goals Microsoft Unveils Microsoft Viva Goals For Objectives Tracking
  • Open Source Security How the IT Industry is Securing Open-Source Software
  • Google I/O Google I/O: New Security Features in Workspace, Enrolling…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • The State of the IT Department in 2022

    The role of the IT professional has shifted from one that supports the business to one that is deserving of a seat at the table when it comes to making business decisions. Check out our new report to see what your peers in IT think about top concerns and opportunities in 2022.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the FREE Tech Decisions eNewsletter

Sign up Today!

Latest Downloads

The State of the IT Department in 2022

The role of the IT professional has shifted from one that supports the business to one that is deserving of a seat at the table when it comes to ma...

Hybrid Work Challenges
The Three Most Common Hybrid Work Challenges Two Years Into the Pandemic

Many of us have been working in a hybrid environment for two years now. Our editors thought this would be a good time to take a look at what’s work...

These 10 IT Certifications Are Critical To An IT Pro’s Success in 2022

Here are 10 cloud, data and security certifications that we identify as critical to an IT professional’s resume in 2022 and beyond, according to a ...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!
Sharp Microsoft Collaboration HQ Logo

Learn More About the
Windows Collaboration Display

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Subscribe to the Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Media Solutions & Advertising
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!

© 2022 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.