The US State Department is trying to capture the five key elements of the Conti criminal group and is offering a reward of ten million dollars for information that facilitates this hunt.
The Conti ransomware gang emerged in force in 2020, attacking hospitals, governments and extorting several companies, having managed to amass 180 million dollars in the last year alone. Now, with over a thousand organizations on their victim list, the hackers are being actively sought by US authorities, with the State Department announcing a $XNUMX million reward for information leading to the identification and capture of the five ringleaders. .
The elements that are at the top of the priorities of the authorities assume the names of Professor, Reshaev, Tramp, Dandis and Target in their online activities. Authorities released an alleged photograph believed to be of Target. The bounty announcement details that hackers linked to foreign governments and who may have unleashed malicious actions against critical US infrastructure are being sought. The gang in question goes by the names of Conti, TrickBot or Wizard Spider, among other nomenclatures.
"This photo is the first the US government has ever had of a malicious actor associated with Conti.”, says a source of the authorities to the Wired.
A Ukrainian cybersecurity expert published more than 60 internal messages from the Conti group a few months ago. The gang is believed to have over a hundred members, each working in individual departments. According to the messages, the elements ask for vacations, are paid regularly and are quite professional in approaching extortion victims.
Many of Conti's elements will be Russian or from neighboring regions and the group is believed to be acting in the pay of Putin's government.
“Conti has already publicly assumed its connection with foreign governments, specifically its support for the Russian government.”, accuses Air Force Major Katrina Cheesman, spokeswoman for the Cyber National Mission Force.
