International Law Enforcement Disrupts Major Ransomware Gangs

The notorious cybercrime gang Lockbit, known for holding victims' data for ransom, has been disrupted in a rare international law enforcement operation involving the UK's National Crime Agency, the US FBI, Europol, and other international police agencies. The gang's extortion website was taken over by the UK's NCA, with the operation ongoing and developing. Lockbit and its affiliates have targeted large organizations, making money by stealing sensitive data and threatening to leak it if victims fail to pay an extortionate ransom. The group has been described as the "Walmart of ransomware groups" and has been a top ransomware threat in the US, hitting over 1,700 organizations. The law enforcement action has been described as highly significant, with the gang's control panel replaced by a message from law enforcement, and the site displaying a countdown to more information from the agencies involved.