US and UK Strike Back: Sanctions Imposed on Russian Cybercrime Gang Take Aim at Trickbot
The US and UK have imposed sanctions on 11 members of the Trickbot cybercrime gang, which has targeted US government entities and healthcare providers, in an effort to combat ransomware and protect critical infrastructure. The sanctions involve freezing assets and travel bans.
The United States and the United Kingdom have announced sanctions against 11 members of the Russia-based Trickbot cybercrime gang. These individuals have been involved in the management and procurement of the Trickbot group, which has ties to Russian intelligence services and has targeted various entities, including the US government, US companies, hospitals, and critical infrastructure.
The sanctions are part of an effort to combat ransomware and respond to disruptions of critical infrastructure. These actions follow previous joint designations by the US and UK in February against several members of the Trickbot group. The US Treasury Department has also indicted nine individuals with ties to the group's malware and Conti ransomware schemes, highlighting the seriousness of the cybercrimes committed by the gang. The individuals designated in the recent sanctions include administrators, managers, developers, and coders who have materially assisted Trickbot in its operations.
Notably, two of the individuals had oversight of the gang's human resources functions. Trickbot has been responsible for extorting millions of dollars from victims globally, including $180 million from victims worldwide and £27 million from 149 victims in the UK. The group has also targeted US government entities and healthcare providers. The sanctions imposed on these individuals involve freezing their assets, imposing travel bans, and prohibiting transactions with organizations in the US and UK. These measures aim to make it harder for the hackers to launder money associated with their criminal activities.
While the sanctions may have limited impact due to the protection offered by the Kremlin to Russians, they serve as a symbolic action against cybercriminals. Moreover, they demonstrate the commitment of the US and UK governments to combatting cybercrime and protecting critical infrastructure from potential threats. The ongoing collaboration between the two nations reflects their shared dedication to countering Russian cybercrime and ransomware activities.
