Security News > 2020 > July > EU tries to get serious on cybercrime with first sanctions against Wannacry, NotPetya, CloudHopper crews

The European Union has, for the first time ever, slapped sanctions on hacking crews.

"Sanctions are one of the options available in the EU's cyber diplomacy toolbox to prevent, deter and respond to malicious cyber activities directed against the EU or its member states, and today is the first time the EU has used this tool," the EU said of the decision.

The sanctions will take the form of asset freezes and travel bans, as well as blocks on any EU person or company doing business with any of those listed.

The EU said two individuals involved in the operation, Gao Qiang and Zhang Shilong, will now face sanctions, as will the company that served as their base of operations, Huaying Haitai.

A Moscow-based team tied to GRU, the Russian military intelligence service, was sanctioned for its role in a pair of high-profile malware outbreaks: the GRU's Main Center for Special Technologies was said by the council to have been the source of the infamous NotPetya malware.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2020/07/31/eu_sanctions_hackers/