Encrypted data and demanded millions in ransoms: Ukrainian cyber police helped expose international hacker group
Ukrainian cyber police officers joined the large-scale international special operation Checkmate, which resulted in the neutralization of the dangerous BlackSuit hacking network. The criminals were demanding tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for unlocking encrypted user data.
This was reported by the press service of the National Police.
It is noted that on July 29, it became known about the successful completion of an international police operation codenamed Checkmate, the purpose of which was to expose and disrupt the activities of the BlackSuit cybercriminal group. Dozens of law enforcement agencies from different countries participated in this operation, including the Ukrainian cyber police, which provided important analytical support.
The BlackSuit group, also known as Quantum, Royal, and Chaos, has been active since 2022. They created powerful ransomware that encrypted users’ data and blocked access to computers. After the attack, the hackers demanded ransoms in cryptocurrency, sometimes in amounts of up to $60 million.
The total amount of ransoms requested exceeded half a billion dollars. The group mainly attacked government and commercial organizations in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
As part of the operation, law enforcement officers confiscated the group’s websites in one of the domain zones, which paralyzed its digital infrastructure. Criminal proceedings have also been opened in Ukraine under Part 5 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code. The sanction of this article provides for up to 15 years of imprisonment.
The operation was made possible by coordination between the US Department of Homeland Security, Europol, law enforcement agencies in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France, and the Ukrainian cyber police. Technical expertise was provided by Romanian cybersecurity company Bitdefender.
Representatives of the Bureau of Ukrainian Liaison Officers at Europol played a key role in ensuring communication and interaction between the parties.
We would like to remind you that the Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police and with the support of Czech colleagues, conducted a large-scale special operation to expose an international hacker group.
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