Odaily Planet Daily News: In an international coordinated effort, law enforcement authorities in Phuket, Thailand, detained four Russian citizens on Monday for suspected crypto-ransomware attacks. The suspects are believed to be members of the 8Base group that used the Phobos ransomware, which attacked 17 Swiss companies between April 2023 and October 2024.
The suspects are accused of hacking into the networks of several European companies, encrypting data and demanding decryption fees in cryptocurrency. Phobos ransomware typically targets small and medium-sized businesses that lack strong cybersecurity measures. In addition to these incidents, the suspects are also linked to approximately 1,000 victims worldwide, with a total of approximately $16 million in Bitcoin stolen.
The 8Base organization has been identified as a key player in the crypto-ransomware ecosystem. The suspects are currently awaiting extradition to face charges related to their alleged involvement in ransomware attacks. (Cryptonews)