An online site run by a major criminal gang LockBit appears to have been taken over by law enforcement. The site sells services which allow people to compromise computer networks and hold their data until a ransom is paid
According to the BBC, on Monday evening, a message appeared on the site belonging to the group saying it is “now under control of law enforcement”. The message says that the “site is under the control of the National Crime Agency of the UK, working in close cooperation with the FBI and the international law enforcement task force, ‘Operation Cronos’.”
It adds that this is an “ongoing and developing operation” and adds: “Return here for more information at 11:30 GMT on Tuesday, February 20th”. LockBit has been involved in many high-profile hackings. The group and its affiliates make money by stealing sensitive data and threatening to leak it unless their victims pay a ransom.
It’s extremely difficult to catch cybercriminals, especially those in huge operational groups so disruption is a key police tactic. The extent of the disruption to the Lockbit operation remains to be seen as the cybercrime group is known for its large-scale criminal activities with reported impact on a variety of verticals and public sectors in many countries. Nonetheless, the news of law enforcement’s success shouldn’t be downplayed. We might be witnessing the beginning of the end of Lockbit’s criminal operations.
It shows the successes of law enforcement agencies working together in collaboration and how this remains the best way in targeting connected threat actors. Locating enough evidence is the most difficult aspect in any cybercrime investigation but this highlights that with enough force and proactive policing, crime won’t always continue to pay.
by Jake Moore, ESET
ESET Ireland 