Notorious cybercriminal Mikhail Matveev, known as 'Wazawaka,' arrested by Russian authorities for developing malware and running a hacking group



Russian law enforcement agencies have arrested Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, a cybercriminal also known by the names 'Wazawaka,' 'Uhodiransomwar,' 'm1x,' and 'Boriselcin,' for allegedly developing malware and being involved in multiple hacking groups.

Russia arrests cybercriminal Wazawaka for ties with ransomware gangs

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/russia-arrests-cybercriminal-wazawaka-for-ties-with-ransomware-gangs/



Russia arrests ransomware attacker Wazawaka
https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/russia-arrests-ransomware-attacker-wazawaka-202134431.html

Russia arrests cybercriminal Wazawaka for ties with ransomware gangs – DataBreaches.Net
https://databreaches.net/2024/11/29/russia-arrests-cybercriminal-wazawaka-for-ties-with-ransomware-gangs/

Russian prosecutors have announced the arrest of a notorious cybercriminal known by the names 'Wazawaka,' 'Uhodiransomwar,' 'm1x,' and 'Boriselcin.' While prosecutors have not released details of the individual's identity, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti has reported , citing anonymous sources, that the individual is Matveev.

Matveev is accused of developing ransomware, which prosecutors' memos describe as 'specialized malicious software capable of encrypting files and data,' and that he planned to use it to encrypt the data of 'commercial organizations' and then demand a ransom in exchange for decrypting the data.

In a statement, the Russian Interior Ministry said only about the arrested individuals: 'Currently, investigators have gathered sufficient evidence and a criminal case with an indictment signed by the prosecutor has been sent to the Kaliningrad Central Court for substantive hearing.'



The US Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against Matveev in

New Jersey and the District of Columbia . According to the lawsuit, Matveev was involved with three ransomware groups, Hive , LockBit , and Babuk, and is said to have launched the following ransomware attacks:

In June 2020, Matveev and LockBit co-conspirators deployed the LockBit ransomware against law enforcement networks in Passaic County, New Jersey.
In April 2021, Matveev and Babuk's co-conspirators deployed a malicious payload on the systems of the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department.
In May 2022, Matveev and Hive co-conspirators encrypted the systems of a non-profit behavioral health organization based in Mercer County, New Jersey.

Matveev was indicted by the US Department of Justice in May 2023 for his involvement in 'Hive' and 'LockBit,' and is also wanted by the FBI .



Matveev is also known as “Orange” and is believed to be the creator and administrator of the hacking forum “Ramp” and the former administrator of the “Babuk” ransomware.

Matveev

has also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for conducting cyberattacks against U.S. organizations, including law enforcement and critical infrastructure organizations.

The U.S. Department of Defense is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of criminals in international organized crime.



Matveev is very active online, frequently interacting with cybersecurity researchers and experts and openly discussing cybercrime activities using his X (formerly Twitter) account RansomBoris .




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in Security, Posted by logu_ii