Security News > 2021 > November > Feds Offer $10 Million Bounty for DarkSide Info

The federal government has upped the ante in its fight against ransomware by offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the identification or location of leaders of the DarkSide ransomware group.

The U.S. Department of State unveiled the reward on Thursday, adding a $5 million reward for for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals participating in a DarkSide attack.

The group is also believed to have been behind a ransomware attack against Toshiba.

These attacks demonstrate a disregard of President Joe Biden's call for international leaders to shut down ransomware groups.

Several professionals compared the $10 million bounty to the $25 million that the United States offered to help authorities track down Al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, noting that the sizeable sum shows commitment on their part.

Federal incentive from governments could be a crucial step into spurring the international crime-fighting effort needed to shut down ransomware gangs for good, noted another security professional.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/feds-offer-10-million-bounty-on-darkside-info/176030/