The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on the Russian hosting company Aeza Group and its key operators for supporting cybercriminal activities, including ransomware, infostealers, darknet markets, and disinformation campaigns. These actions target the infrastructure enabling groups like BianLian, BlackSprut, and the Doppelgänger disinformation operation. #AezaGroup #BianLian #BlackSprut #Doppelgänger #OFAC
Keypoints
- The Treasury sanctioned Aeza Group and four individuals involved in cybercriminal activities and disinformation operations.
- Aeza Group provided bulletproof hosting services for ransomware gangs and darknet marketplaces, ignoring law enforcement requests.
- Key operators of Aeza Group include CEO Arsenii Penzev and general director Yurii Bozoyan, both with assets frozen in the U.S.
- Previously, Aeza was linked to a disinformation campaign called “Doppelgänger” which aimed to distribute propaganda in the West.
- The sanctions expand upon earlier measures targeting cybercriminal hosting providers used by groups like LockBit.