"Gouda Hacker: Charges Tie to Ransomware Hit Affecting Cheese"

Mikhail Matveev is a Russian national whom prosecutors accused of wielding three ransomware strains. In addition to hacking hospitals and schools, Matveev allegedly caused a shortage of cheese in the Netherlands through a ransomware attack. Matveev is accused of being an affiliate of the LockBit, Babuk, and Hive ransomware gangs. Security experts emphasize that the indictments are notable because they target a foot soldier directly responsible for hacking into victims' networks and using ransomware to extort them instead of the Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group leaders. According to New Jersey US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, Matveev allegedly used the ransomware strains to encrypt and hold for ransom the data of numerous victims, including hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies such as the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC. Matveev also allegedly caused a cheese shortage in the Netherlands in April 2021, when Babuk hit one of the country's largest logistics providers, Bakker Logistiek, which supplies hundreds of supermarkets, wholesalers, and retailers. The company reported that critical Information Technology (IT) systems were crypto-locked, possibly after attackers had gained access by exploiting Microsoft Exchange ProxyLogon vulnerabilities. This led to the disruption of Dutch supply chains and empty cheese counters. This article continues to discuss the hacker Mikhail Matveev and the indictments he faces.

DataBreachToday reports "Gouda Hacker: Charges Tie to Ransomware Hit Affecting Cheese"