North American casinos have faced several major hacking attempts this year including major gaming companies such as MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment.
In response, FBI It released a tool last week that can now help the industry combat cyberattack efforts. The Department of Justice announced a crackdown on the Blackcat Ransomware group (also known as ALPHV or nupirus). The group targeted more than 1,000 computer networks around the world.
“Over the past 18 months, ALPHV/ Blackcat has emerged as the second most prevalent type of ransomware-as-a-service in the world based on the hundreds of millions of dollars in ransoms paid by victims worldwide. FBI male.
“Given the global scope of these crimes, many foreign law enforcement agencies are conducting parallel investigations FBI Developed a decryption tool that allows FBI Field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to provide more than 500 affected victims with the ability to restore their systems.
Saving millions of dollars
The move comes as some in the technology world have recently questioned federal officials’ efforts to find those responsible for the attack MGM Attacks. The Department of Justice is now hoping the decryption tool will provide some help.
the FBI She mentioned working with dozens of victims in the United States and internationally to launch the new prevention tool. This effort is said to have already saved several ransomware victims worth $68 million.
An unsealed search warrant in Florida also shows how it was done FBI Gain insight into the computer network of the Blackcat Ransomware group. The investigation included the seizure of several websites run by the group.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco: “By disabling the Blackcat ransomware suite, the Department of Justice once again outflanks hackers.” “Using the decryption tool provided by FBI For hundreds of ransomware victims around the world, businesses and schools have been able to reopen, and healthcare and emergency services have been able to come back online. We will continue to prioritize disruption and put victims at the center of our strategy to dismantle the ecosystem that fuels cybercrime.
Blackcat is believed to be behind the attack MGMThis left many of the company’s computer networks inoperable for several days. CEO Bill Hornbuckle noted that the entire ordeal cost the company about $100 million.
The unsealed memo notes that Blackcat also compromised systems at government facilities, emergency services, defense companies, manufacturing, healthcare facilities, and more. Global losses amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.
