US charges Israeli-Russian national with making software for LockBit ransomware gang

The U.S. charged Israeli-Russian national Rostislav Panev with developing software for the infamous LockBit ransomware group that for years has caught the attention of law enforcement officials and cybersecurity researchers around the world.

Panev allegedly served as a developer for the LockBit ransomware group from its formation around 2019 until at least February 2024. During that period, he and associates expanded LockBit into one of the most active and destructive ransomware organizations globally. 

The group targeted over 2,500 victims across at least 120 countries, including 1,800 in the United States, the Justice Department said in a media release announcing the charges.

Their victims ranged from individuals and small businesses to large corporations, hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, government and law enforcement entities. LockBit’s operations resulted in the extraction of over $500 million in ransom payments and caused billions of dollars in additional losses, DOJ said ...