US authorities announced Monday that a Russian man has been extradited from South Korea to the US to face charges related to a ransomware ring that allegedly extorted over $16 million from victims worldwide.
According to the Justice Department, 42-year-old Evgenii Ptitsyn is charged with overseeing the sale, distribution, and operation of Phobos, a ransomware variant that has been utilized in over 1,000 ransomware assaults against both public and private entities. Schools, healthcare establishments, and government organizations are among the victims of the ransomware.
The FBI, which normally must wait until suspected ransomware kingpins depart Russia before attempting to apprehend them due to the lack of an extradition pact between the US and Russia, is pleased by the news.
