Putinkrab

Putinkrab, a threat actor, has been identified as a significant figure in the cybercrime world. Known for his involvement in ransomware operations, Putinkrab first emerged on Russian cybercrime forums such as XSS, Exploit, and UFOLabs in 2019, selling advanced ransomware source code written in C language. His expertise didn't just materialize; it was clear that he had prior experience with developing and using successful ransomware strains. Throughout the summer of 2019, Putinkrab updated the community about new features and evasion techniques being added to his ransomware strain, demonstrating his confidence in the potential profitability of his code. In May 2024, a joint operation by the FBI, UK National Crime Agency, and Europol led to the unmasking of Putinkrab's identity. The individual behind the pseudonym was revealed to be Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a 31-year-old from Voronezh, Russia. Known by multiple aliases including 'LockBitSupp' and 'LockBit', Khoroshev was charged by a 26-count indictment returned by a grand jury in the District of New Jersey, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime. Despite the identification and sanctions against Khoroshev, the threat posed by the ransomware code developed by Putinkrab remains. His belief in his ransomware code as a "game-changer" and "huge money machine" underscores the potential danger it poses to cybersecurity. The fact that Khoroshev offered to work for a share of the ransoms, indicating a business model where the ransomware could be used by others, further amplifies this threat. This case underlines the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and security agencies in tackling sophisticated cybercriminals and their evolving tactics.