FBI and Allies Disrupt Major Ransomware Attacks, Provide Free Decryption Tools

The FBI, along with other law enforcement agencies, has disrupted a major ransomware operation responsible for the MGM cyberattack and targeting hospitals and local governments. The Justice Department has released a decryption tool to help victims free their computer systems from the malicious software used by the group. The ransomware strain, Alphv, has caused significant financial losses, with the MGM attack alone costing around $100 million. The operation seeks to counter the encryption of victim computers and the publication of hacked material on the dark web. However, the primary developers of Alphv are believed to be based in Russia, where they are unlikely to face penalties from law enforcement.