The U.S. Justice Department has indicted Rustam Gallyamov, allegedly the leader behind the Qakbot malware used by major ransomware groups. The operation involved multiple countries, and the takedown of the botnet aimed to disrupt a widespread cybercrime network affecting various organizations worldwide. #Qakbot #RustamGallyamov
Keypoints
- Rustam Gallyamov, a Russian national, is accused of creating the Qakbot malware in 2008.
- The malware infected over 700,000 computers and was exploited by ransomware gangs like Conti and REvil.
- A multinational operation in August 2023 targeted and took down the Qakbot botnet across several European countries and the US.
- Gallyamov’s group shifted tactics after the takedown, launching spam campaigns to deceive employees into granting network access.
- The DOJ also charged 16 individuals for deploying DanaBot malware, which infected over 300,000 devices and caused damage exceeding $50 million.
Read More: https://therecord.media/doj-charges-man-allegedly-behind-qakbot-malware