Russian-Israeli citizen charged in connection with LockBit hacking group

The United States Department of Justice has announced charges against Mikhail Matveev, a dual citizen of Russia and Israel, for his alleged role as a software developer for the notorious hacking group LockBit. The charges include involvement in cyberattacks targeting companies and government institutions in the US and other countries.

Matveev was arrested in Israel, and American authorities are seeking his extradition. If extradited and found guilty, he could face up to 30 years in prison. LockBit, one of the most prolific ransomware groups, has been responsible for over 1,400 cyberattacks worldwide, demanding more than $100 million from their victims and receiving tens of millions of dollars in Bitcoin.

In February, a joint operation involving the UK's National Crime Agency, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies from 11 countries successfully blocked LockBit's portal and 11,000 domain names used by the group to distribute malware. This coordinated effort highlights the global scale of the fight against cybercrime.