The US Offers $15 Million: In Exchange For Information Regarding Conti Ransomware

  • Ransomware attacks are common and remain to be a threat as they are constantly being carried out by various groups.  
  • The U.S.Department of State has set a considerable sum of money in turn for information regarding the Conti ransomware group information. 
  • Ransomware attacks went extreme in 2020 by reaching $692 million in total value, highlights data. 

The U.S.Department of State has set two separate considerations for information regarding the Conti ransomware organized crime group worth $15 Million. 

Furthermore, any related information that can facilitate the Department to identify or locate the minds behind the Conti group would be awarded nearly $10 million. And $5 Million would be awarded if any information is provided that may help with the arrest of those conspiring with the group. 

These rewards can be claimed from any country and these rewards are offered under the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP). 

Ransomware Attacks Remains To Be A Concern 

According to data by Chainanalysis, Ransomware attacks went extreme in 2020 reaching $692 million in total value. These are basically the type of attacks that targets private information and threatens to leak or delete it for a massive amount in return. 

The total amount spent for ransom remained more than $600 Million for the last year. The ransom attacks continue to be a threat still. Furthermore, the report stated that despite the figures, anecdotal evidence, and the fact that ransomware revenue in the first half of 2021 surpassed that of the first half of 2020, suggests to them that 2021 will eventually be disclosed to have been an even bigger year for ransomware.

The report also highlights the top ten ransomware strains by revenue, and Conti is in the first position by squeezing nearly $180 Million from the victims last year. 

Apparently, the Conti ransomware group has been functioning for over two years and has approximately 350 members. And it managed to accumulate more than $2.7 billion in ransom since 2020.

A piece of leaked information from this group highlights that they utilize proprietary in-house software which is quite faster compared to other ransomware programs. And that all the versions of Microsoft are prone to their attack. 

Cyberint experts analyzed the group and signified Conti debunked previously confiscated in-group messages written in Russian and they signified that the group works in a well-managed organizational structure. The messages also signify that the group has offices in Russia. 

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Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2022/05/08/the-us-offers-15-million-in-exchange-for-information-regarding-conti-ransomware/