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The US Department of Justice has unsealed charges against Rostislav Panev, a dual Russian-Israeli national, for his alleged role as a developer within the LockBit ransomware group. Panev is accused of creating software used by the group to disable antivirus programs, spread malware, and generate ransom notes. The charges follow a multi-year investigation into the ransomware group which emerged in 2019, which has targeted over 2,500 victims across 120 countries causing over $500 million in ransom payments. Panev was arrested in Israel in August and is awaiting extradition to the US.
The complaint against Panev claims that he developed and maintained the digital tools used by LockBit to carry out its attacks. Authorities found administrator credentials for LockBit’s infrastructure on his computer and source code for their ransomware. The ransomware group operates on a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, with affiliates executing the attacks after developers like Panev create the necessary tools. While law enforcement disrupted some of LockBit's infrastructure in February, the group managed to relaunch soon after, and many affiliates are still at large.
References :
The complaint against Panev claims that he developed and maintained the digital tools used by LockBit to carry out its attacks. Authorities found administrator credentials for LockBit’s infrastructure on his computer and source code for their ransomware. The ransomware group operates on a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, with affiliates executing the attacks after developers like Panev create the necessary tools. While law enforcement disrupted some of LockBit's infrastructure in February, the group managed to relaunch soon after, and many affiliates are still at large.
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References :
- CyberInsider: LockBit Ransomware Developer Indicted in the U.S.
- malware.news: US charges Israeli-Russian national with making software for LockBit ransomware gang
- therecord.media: US unseals complaint against Russian-Israeli accused of working for LockBit
- www.justice.gov: US charges dual Russian and Israeli national developer for LockBit ransomware group
- Threats | CyberScoop: Justice Department unveils charges against alleged LockBit developer
- www.bloomberg.com: The US charges dual Russian and Israeli national Rostislav Panev for allegedly working with the LockBit ransomware group and seeks his extradition from Israel
- Osint10x: LockBit Developer Rostislav Panev Charged for Billions in Global Ransomware Damages
- www.techmeme.com: Techmeme report on Lockbit developer arrest.
- techcrunch.com: Third member of LockBit ransomware gang has been arrested
- www.theverge.com: US reveals charges against alleged LockBit ransomware developer
- BleepingComputer: The US Department of Justice has charged a Russian-Israeli dual-national for his suspected role in developing malware and managing the infrastructure for the notorious LockBit ransomware group.
- www.bleepingcomputer.com: BleepingComputer article on US charges against LockBit ransomware coder
- The Hacker News: The Hacker News reports on the charges against LockBit developer Rostislav Panev.
- techhub.social: The US charges dual Russian and Israeli national Rostislav Panev for allegedly working with the LockBit ransomware group and seeks his extradition from Israel
- bsky.app: LockBit ransomware developer Rostislav Panev has been charged in the U.S. for creating tools behind BILLIONS in global damages
- Security Affairs: US charged Dual Russian and Israeli National as LockBit Ransomware developer
- aboutdfir.com: Suspected LockBit dev, facing US extradition, ‘did it for the money’ An alleged LockBit ransomware developer is in custody in Israel and awaiting extradition to the United States. Israeli law enforcement arrested Rostislav Panev, 51, a dual Russian and Israeli national, in August at the request of the US.
- Help Net Security: The US Department of Justice has unsealed charges against Rostislav Panev, 51, a dual Russian and Israeli national, suspected of being a developer for the LockBit ransomware group. Panev was arrested in August 2024 and is currently in custody in Israel pending extradition.
- ciso2ciso.com: US charged Dual Russian and Israeli National as LockBit Ransomware developer
- www.helpnetsecurity.com: US charges suspected LockBit ransomware developer.
- ciso2ciso.com: US charged Dual Russian and Israeli National as LockBit Ransomware developer – Source: securityaffairs.com
Classification:
- HashTags: #LockBit #Ransomware #Cybercrime
- Company: LockBit
- Target: organizations
- Attacker: LockBit
- Product: LockBit Ransomware
- Feature: malware development
- Malware: LockBit
- Type: Ransomware
- Severity: Major