The U.S. government has indicted a Russian national for his alleged role in ransomware attacks against U.S. law enforcement and critical infrastructure.
U.S. authorities accuse Mikhail Matveev, also known online as “Wazawaka” and “Boriselcin,” of being a “central figure” in developing and deploying the Hive, LockBit, and Babuk ransomware variants.
In 2021, Matveev claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The cyberattack saw the Babuk ransomware gang, which Matveev was allegedly a member of since early 2020, infiltrate the police department’s systems to steal the personal details of police officers, along with sensitive information about gangs, suspects of crimes and witnesses.
Matveev and his co-conspirators also deployed LockBit ransomware against a law enforcement agency in New …
