5/17/2023–|Last update: 5/17/202307:51 AM (Mecca time)
The United States has set a reward of $10 million for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of a Russian hacker accused of being behind attacks targeting especially Washington police, schools and hospitals.
The US Department of Justice said in a statement yesterday, Tuesday, that Mikhail Matveev is accused of using electronic ransomware programs, such as “Lockbit”, “Babook” and “Hive”, to attack targets in the United States from Russia in order to obtain from his victims financial ransoms amounting to a total value of 200 dollars. Million dollars.
The statement quoted the Federal Prosecutor in New Jersey, Philip Selinger, as saying that the hacker was encrypting the data of many victims, especially hospitals, schools, associations and police units, including the Washington police, and asking the owners for sums of money in exchange for their release.
The ministry added that the hacker used several pseudonyms, including “Wazawaka”, “M1X” and “Boresylcin”.
Internet hackers use ransomware to penetrate vulnerable information systems and encrypt or steal their data. After that, hackers ask the owners of these systems to pay a financial ransom in exchange for decrypting this encryption, under penalty of publishing it or not decrypting it.
The US State Department offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. If convicted, Mikhail Matveev faces up to 20 years in prison.
