UK National Crime Agency arrests LockBit cybercrime network hackers, plans to support victims
Posted: February 20, 2024 11:07 AM Updated: February 20, 2024 11:08 AM
Correction and fact check date: February 20, 2024, 11:07 AM
briefly
The UK’s NCA has taken control of cybercrime group LockBit, its networks and the key tools used for cyberattacks.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced that it has taken control of LockBit, one of the world’s most dangerous cybercrime groups. By successfully infiltrating the group’s network, the NCA effectively disrupted LockBit’s overall criminal operations and gained control of key tools LockBit uses to plan and execute cyberattacks.
NCA also gained control of LockBit’s primary management environment. A platform utilized by affiliates to plan and execute attacks, and the group’s public exfiltration site on the dark web, which had previously threatened to host and publish data stolen from victims. The agency also obtained extensive information collected from the system, including the source code of the LockBit platform and details about the group’s activities, as well as insights into individuals who collaborated with the group and used its services to cause harm to organizations around the world.
Notably, some of the data on LockBit’s system belonged to victims who paid ransoms to threat actors. This indicates that paying the ransom does not guarantee the deletion of your data, contrary to what the criminals have guaranteed.
Subsequently, the two defendants responsible for leveraging LockBit to carry out the ransomware attack were criminally charged and detained and will face trial in the UK.
Operation Cronos dismantles LockBit and clears the way for victim support
Working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and with the support of international partners in nine other countries, the NCA conducted an undercover investigation into LockBit as part of a dedicated task force known as “Operation Kronos.”
The technical penetration and disruption is the initial step in a series of actions against LockBit and its affiliates. In an extensive joint effort led by Europol, two LockBit actors were arrested this morning in Poland and Ukraine, and more than 200 cryptocurrency accounts associated with the group were frozen.
The U.S. Department of Justice also said that two defendants responsible for using LockBit in the ransomware attack have been criminally charged and are currently in custody and scheduled for trial. The United States also unsealed indictments against two other Russian nationals for their alleged involvement in conspiring the LockBit attack.
The NCA and its international partners plan to further support LockBit victims. The agency has obtained more than 1,000 decryption keys and will be contacting companies in the UK in the coming days and weeks to assist and assist in recovering encrypted data.
Through joint efforts with international partners, the NCA was able to dismantle the LockBit cybercrime group, highlighting the need for global cooperation to tackle evolving cyber threats.
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About the author
Alisa is a reporter for Metaverse Post. She focuses on everything related to investing, AI, metaverse, and Web3. Alisa holds a degree in Art Business and her expertise lies in the fields of art and technology. She developed a passion for journalism through her work with VCs, notable cryptocurrency projects, and science writing. You can contact us at (email protected).
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alice davidson
Alisa is a reporter for Metaverse Post. She focuses on everything related to investing, AI, metaverse, and Web3. Alisa holds a degree in Art Business and her expertise lies in the fields of art and technology. She developed a passion for journalism through her work with VCs, notable cryptocurrency projects, and science writing. You can contact us at (email protected).
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