The US Department of Justice, the National Investigation Service of Bulgaria and the Office for Combating Organized Crime in Bulgaria have joined forces to eliminate the NetWalker ransomware virus.
The hackers behind NetWalker offer a “subscription virus” service, which means they provide various groups with access to the virus and help infecting various companies and government agencies. In the past year, even health care facilities have been attacked by the virus.
As part of an international operation, charges were brought against Canadian citizen Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins, who received $ 27.6 million from NetWalker attacks. Also, law enforcement agencies confiscated $ 450,000 in cryptocurrencies – the funds were paid by the victims of three ransomware attacks. The Bulgarian authorities have closed the “hidden resource on the darknet”, which was used by “accomplices” of NetWalker operators.
“We have fought back against the ransomware operators, whose threat is constantly growing. We have not only brought criminal charges against those responsible, but also damaged the online infrastructure. We have tried to return the ransoms paid to the victims where possible, ”said Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid.
In the fall of 2020, NetWalker operators attacked the energy company K-Electric, as well as the Argentine migration service. According to McAfee, hackers using NetWalker received $ 25 million in ransoms in just four months last year.
Telegram channel!
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
