The Belarusian creator and administrator of the Ransom Cartel ransomware was sentenced to 16 years in prison in the US.
Maksim Silnikau, 40, built the ransomware operation and recruited other individuals through cybercrime forums, according to documents presented in court.
Silnikau provided Ransom Cartel conspirators with stolen credentials and other information on compromised computers, as well as with tools to encrypt those systems.
Additionally, the court documents show, he maintained a hidden website used to manage and monitor ransomware attacks, communicate with other conspirators and with victims, and manage the distribution of funds between participants.
Between 2021 and 2023, Ransom Cartel targeted at least 18 organizations in the US and abroad, stealing victims’ data and demanding monetary payments in exchange for decryption keys or the promise not to publish the stolen information.
