(London) The LockBit cybercriminal group, described as the “most damaging” in the world, has been dismantled during an international police operation, authorities in several countries announced on Tuesday.
“After hacking the group’s network, the UK Crime Agency (NCA) took control of LockBit’s services, putting their entire criminal enterprise at risk,” the agency said in a statement. According to her, the ransomware targeted “thousands of victims around the world” and caused losses totaling billions of euros.
“We've been hacked by hackers,” said Graeme Biggar, director general of the NCA, announcing LockBit's inability during a press conference in London.
LockBit collected more than $120 million in ransomware in total, according to the US.
LockBit is presented as one of the most active malware in the world, with more than 2,500 victims, including more than 200 in France, including “hospitals, city councils and companies of all sizes,” the company said in a press release. Floor in Paris.
A message on the LockBit website stated, “This site is now under the control of law enforcement authorities,” explaining that the British NCA had taken control of the site, in cooperation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and agencies from several countries.
“We can confirm that LockBit services have been disrupted due to an international police operation, and this is an ongoing operation,” the message added.
In November 2022, the US Department of Justice described LockBit ransomware as “the world's most active and destructive variant”.
LockBit targeted critical infrastructure and large industrial groups, and ransom demands ranged from 5 to 70 million euros. In 2023, the group specifically attacked the British Postal Corporation and the Kennedy Children's Hospital.
According to a website of the American authorities, based in mid-June last year on Federal Police (FBI) data, the group carried out more than 1,700 attacks against victims in the United States and around the world (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, 2016). private). ).
