Security News > 2024 > January > Australia sanctions REvil hacker behind Medibank data breach

The Australian government has announced sanctions for Aleksandr Gennadievich Ermakov, a Russian national considered responsible for the 2022 Medibank hack and a member of the REvil ransomware group.

Following a lengthy investigation, the Australian authorities identified Ermakov as the person responsible for the Medibank hack and data theft.

According to the latest amendment of the Autonomous Sanctions document, Ermakov used multiple aliases, including GustaveDore, aiiis ermak, blade runner, and JimJone.

In a press conference at Canberra, Australia's Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister confirmed that Ermakov was a member of the REvil ransomware operation and he was not among the individuals that Russia detained in early 2022 under suspicion of being members of the REvil group.

Although Ermakov may not care about the sanctions or find ways to evade them, his illegal activity is likely to feel the effect of these restrictions.

As the sanctions in response to the Medibank Private cyber incident have a financial component, this means that whoever provides assets to Ermakov, including cryptocurrency or ransomware payments, would be committing an offense.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/australia-sanctions-revil-hacker-behind-medibank-data-breach/