German Authorities Identify REvil Leader 'UNKN' in Major Cybercrime Takedown

Severity: Medium (Score: 57.9)

Sources: Feeds.Feedburner, Gbhackers

Summary

German authorities have identified 31-year-old Daniil Maksimovich Shchukin as the leader of the notorious ransomware groups GandCrab and REvil, known by the hacker alias 'UNKN.' Shchukin is implicated in at least 130 acts of computer sabotage and extortion against victims in Germany from 2019 to 2021. The German Federal Criminal Police (BKA) announced the identification as part of a broader effort to dismantle these cybercrime operations. The investigation highlights the ongoing threat posed by Russian cybercriminals and their sophisticated ransomware tactics. Shchukin's arrest could lead to further insights into the operational methods of these gangs. The BKA's actions represent a significant step in combating ransomware and cyber extortion in Europe. Key Points: • Daniil Maksimovich Shchukin, alias 'UNKN,' identified as leader of GandCrab and REvil. • Shchukin is linked to at least 130 cyber extortion cases in Germany from 2019 to 2021. • The BKA's identification marks a significant effort to combat organized cybercrime.

Key Entities

• Ransomware (attack_type)
• Germany (country)
• GandCrab (ransomware_group)
• REvil (ransomware_group)