The sudden fall of a ransomware supplier once described as the world's most harmful cybercrime group has raised questions about Moscow's role in its development and the fate of its founder.

LockBit supplied ransomware to a global network of hackers, who used the services in recent years to attacks thousands of targets worldwide and rake in tens of millions of dollars.

Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, that steals data and prevents a user from accessing computer files or networks until a ransom is paid for their return.

LockBit supplied a worldwide network of hackers with the tools and infrastructure to carry out attacks, communicate with victims, store the stolen information and launder cryptocurrencies.

According to the US State Department, between 2020 and early 2024 LockBit ransomware carried out attacks on more than 2,500 victims around the world.

It issued ransom demands worth hundreds of millions of dollars and received at least $150 million in actual ransom payments made in the form of digital currency.

But LockBit was dealt its first devastating blow in February 2024 when the British National Crime Agency (NCA), working with the US FBI and several other nations, announced it had infiltrated the group's network and took control of its services.

Later that year, the NCA announced it had identified LockBit's leader as a Russian named Dmitry Khoroshev (alias LockBitSupp).

The........

© International Business Times