UK sanctions cyber-crime gang

News

Oct 03, 2024

The UK, US and Australia have sanctioned 16 members of a Russian cyber-crime gang ‘Evil Corp’.

According to the government, Evil Corp has launched a campaign of destructive cyber-attacks across the worldwide for over a decade, including malware and ransomware attacks against UK health, government and public sector institutions, as well as private commercial technology companies.

Maksim Yakubets, who led the group’s operations is one of those sanctioned. He has a $5 million bounty on his head by the US Department of Justice. It was also reported that he cultivated strong ties between Evil Corp and the Russian state, developing relationships with the FSB and Russian military intelligence (GRU).

Those sanctioned will be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “I am making it my personal mission to target the Kremlin with the full arsenal of sanctions at our disposal.   

“Putin has built a corrupt mafia state with himself at its centre. We must combat this at every turn, and today’s action is just the beginning.   

“Today’s sanctions send a clear message to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate Russian cyber-attacks – whether from the state itself or from its cyber-criminal ecosystem.”

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “Cyber-crime causes immense damage to people and business across the world but today’s action is evidence that there are serious consequences for those involved.

“We will continue to work with our international partners to pursue and expose malicious cyber activity and protect the public.”