Security News > 2023 > December > FBI develops decryptor for BlackCat ransomware, seizes gang's website

"As a result of our office's tireless efforts, alongside FBI Miami, US Secret Service, and our foreign law enforcement partners, we have provided BlackCat's victims, in the Southern District of Florida and around the world, the opportunity to get back on their feet and to fortify their digital defenses. We will continue to focus on holding the people behind the BlackCat ransomware group accountable for their crimes."

An AlphV admin said the law enforcement agencies only had access to a "Stupid old key" for the old blog site which was deleted by the group a long time ago and has since not been used.

The domain has not changed but Yelisey Bohuslavkiy, chief research officer at threat intelligence company RedSense, said at the time that BlackCat's affiliates and initial access brokers were convinced the outage was caused by a law enforcement takedown.

Bohuslavkiy went on to say that leaders at rival ransomware outfits were also of the same opinion before he highlighted the lack of an explanation provided by BlackCat.

Brett Callow, threat analyst at Emsisoft, told The Register that the seizure likely marks the end of the AlphV group as the industry knows it, but like others before, the group will probably return under a new guise.

"We continue to support UK-based victims of ALPHV attacks and would encourage anyone who thinks they have been targeted to come forward and report it."

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/12/19/blackcat_domain_seizure/