The Russian FSB security agency arrested 14 alleged members of a Russia-based ransomware gang on January 14, including a hacker behind the 2021 attack on the Colonial Pipeline in the United States.
According to a report by The Washington Post, the timing of the arrests was not coincidental: that this kind of cooperation “would cease if the United States and Western allies impose sanctions in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
An official opined that “Russia will be pursuing legal action (against the ransomware attackers) within its own system.”
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Read the full story via The Washington Post (paywall)
Why it matters
While few ransomware cases rise to this level of attention, it’s a constant threat within and outside of the media and entertainment market space. This case showcases the recurring theme of government intervention against bad actors in the cyber world. It’s just a few degrees of separation from recent anti-piracy collaborations we’ve seen between law enforcement, investigators and regulators across Europe, Asia, the United States and elsewhere.