Russian Extradited to US for $16M Phobos Ransomware Operation

Nov 19, 2024, 06:03 AM

A Russian national, Evgenii Ptitsyn, has been extradited to the United States from South Korea to face charges related to his alleged operation of the Phobos ransomware. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Ptitsyn, 42, has been running a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation since 2019, extorting over $16 million in crypto from more than 1,000 victims worldwide. The ransomware targeted schools, hospitals, and other institutions. The extradition marks a significant step in the DOJ's efforts to combat global cybercrime.