DailyPost 2811
FBI RECOVERS 7,000 LOCKBIT KEYS
It has been a long time since we got any good news with regards to action on Ransomware or even some redressal to the victims of this tsunami, after the dismantling of a top ransomware gang in Russia, early last year. Nonetheless, it appeared in a few months in an attack in India. Now we find an interesting and encouraging news item, that too by a top investigative agency, creating a feeling that it is not always that the ransomware gangs are able to get away. FBI has been able to recover 7,000 LockBit keys, one of the most notorious ransomware gangs of recent times. It has urged all ransomware victims to reach out.
The recovery of 7,000 LockBit decryption keys can be termed as one most commendable recoveries in the history of cyber hacks. These keys can be used to recover encrypted data for free, is the offer given by the FBI. This was announced by a senior official of the agency at the 2024 Boston Conference on Cyber Security. “From our ongoing disruption of LockBit, we now have over 7,000 decryption keys and can help victims reclaim their data and get back online,” was the FBI communication. It does not end here.
Having recovered a goldmine, which can be of immense value to the victims, which can make a difference between business getting debilitated and getting back on its own feet, they are putting their best foot forward. FBI is reaching out to known LockBit victims and anyone who suspects they are a victim to visit their Internet Crime Complaint Center. This major milestone is in continuation to the law enforcement taking down LockBit infrastructure in February 2024. This well planned and coordinated action was a part of an international operation dubbed “Operation Cronos.”
What came out of this operation, helped in this 7,500 decryptor haul. When police seized 34 servers in “Operation Cronos”, it contained over 2,500 decryptors keys. This helped in the creation of a free LockBit 3.0 Black Ransomware decryptor. This is the length the investigative agencies have to cover to make a dent in the operations of ransomware gangs. On the analysis of seized data UK’s National Crime Agency and US Justice Department came out with some estimates pertaining to the gang’s operations. As per their estimates, LockBit and its affiliates have raked in upto $1billion in ransoms following 7,000 attacks targeting organisations worldwide between June 2022 and February 2024. The proceeds are of one such ransomware gang. The total amount being syphoned as ransom by all gangs combined, if known, can blow our minds.
FBI LEADS THE WAY IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE PLIGHT OF THE LOCKBIT RANSOMWARE VICTIMS.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.