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In a significant blow to cybercrime, the FBI, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and other international partners have successfully dismantled the LockBit ransomware syndicate.

This group, responsible for global cyberattacks that siphoned off at least $120 million, saw its operations brought to a halt as law enforcement infiltrated and took control of its services. The NCA’s operation compromised LockBit’s extensive criminal network, which had inflicted financial damages amounting to billions across various currencies due to ransom demands and recovery costs.

Authorities arrested two individuals linked to LockBit, one in Poland and another in Ukraine, while the US Justice Department unveiled indictments against two Russian nationals. LockBit provided ransomware tools and infrastructure to a wide network of hackers, facilitating numerous cyberattacks worldwide. Once a system was infected, the malware would encrypt data and demand a ransom in cryptocurrency to restore access and prevent the public release of the stolen data.

NCA Director General Graeme Biggar praised the operation as a pioneering effort against the most damaging cybercrime group globally. Through collaboration, law enforcement not only dismantled LockBit’s infrastructure but also acquired crucial data, including source codes and decryption keys, to aid victims in recovering their systems. Biggar emphasized the operation’s impact on LockBit’s operational capabilities and reliance on secrecy, stating, “As of today, LockBit are locked out.”

US Attorney General Merrick Garland echoed this sentiment, highlighting the joint efforts of US and UK law enforcement in neutralizing LockBit’s criminal activities. Additionally, he noted the acquisition of decryption keys from the seized infrastructure, offering hope to victims for regaining access to their encrypted data.

Before the public announcement of this law enforcement victory, LockBit’s website was conspicuously altered to display a message indicating law enforcement control, accompanied by the flags of the involved nations. This symbolic gesture underscores the collaborative success of the operation and serves as a warning to other cybercriminal entities about the global resolve to counter cyber threats.