The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have imposed sanctions on Dmitry Khoroshev, a Russian national identified as the leader of the notorious LockBit hacker group.
This development was confirmed through official statements on the websites of the UK and US governments.
Dmitry Khoroshev, 31, residing in Voronezh, Russia, faces 26 charges in the US.
$10 Million Reward
The US Department of Justice has stated that LockBit has impacted over 2,500 individuals globally. The UK authorities attribute approximately a quarter of ransomware cyberattacks to this group.
The US reports indicate that Khoroshev has amassed at least $100 million in bitcoins through his cybercriminal activities, with the total estimated damage reaching $500 million.
In response to these threats, the US State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to Khoroshev's capture.
Further detailing the composition of the LockBit group, the US has identified other members including Ruslan Astamirov, Mikhail Vasiliev, and Mikhail Matveev.
The LockBit software, developed by this group, is a ransomware virus that encrypts files on a computer and demands payment for their release, posing serious challenges to cybersecurity across the globe.
