The hacker behind the ransomware assault that took down the Colonial Pipeline final yr has been apprehended by Russian authorities, based on US officers.
Russia’s FSB intelligence company stated Friday that 14 folks related to the REvil ransomware group had been arrested, based on The Wall Street Journal. The group has taken accountability for quite a few cyberattacks within the US. Officials within the US consider the hacker behind the ransomware assault on the Colonial Pipeline final spring was amongst these arrested, based on an unnamed administration official who spoke to CNN.
Last yr’s cyberattack, which was attributed to a ransomware gang, prompted a big disruption to the Colonial Pipeline, which provides practically half of the gasoline for your complete east coast of the US. The short-term shutdown of the pipeline incited mass panic shopping for at fuel stations in and across the east coast of the US, which resulted in shortages in at the least 11 states.
As CNN notes, the arrest comes after per week of diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia relating to Russia’s buildup of troops close to the border with Ukraine. The Biden official informed the community that it believes the arrest was “not related” to the state of affairs. But some analysts have urged in any other case, noting that that is the primary first US investigation Russia has cooperated on in eight years.