The U.S. government has initiated a hunt for a Russian fugitive with a $10 million reward on his head. Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, 31, from Voronezh, Russia, stands accused of orchestrating the world's largest ransomware scheme through LockBit, a ransomware group involved in cyberattacks on various organizations. Khoroshev, described as the leader and developer of LockBit, faces charges including conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, wire fraud, and intentional damage to protected computers.
LockBit ransomware, first detected in January 2020, targeted organizations globally, including those in the U.S., India, and Brazil.
The group threatened to publish sensitive data if ransom demands were not met. In one instance, they claimed to have obtained substantial data from Boeing and threatened to disclose it unless a significant ransom was paid. Despite a cybersecurity incident at Boeing, the company assured that there was no threat to its aircraft or flight safety.
Khoroshev's whereabouts are currently unknown, prompting the Department of State to offer a reward for information leading to his arrest.
Following a coordinated effort by law enforcement agencies, LockBit's operations were severely disrupted in February, rendering them almost inoperable.
Despite this setback, Khoroshev attempted to revive LockBit, showing a relentless pursuit in the ransomware domain.