The US government has offered a $10 million bounty for the arrest of Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, identified as the leader of the LockBit ransomware group.

LockBit is accused of extorting $500 million from over 2,500 victims globally, with Khoroshev personally making an estimated $100 million.

The ransomware group was responsible for a significant portion of ransomware attacks in Australia, accounting for 18% of them in 2022 and 2023.

The US Department of Justice has unveiled charges against Khoroshev for his alleged role in creating and managing the LockBit ransomware.

Sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, have been imposed on Khoroshev by the US, UK, and Australia as part of the international Operation Cronos campaign against cybercrime.

Law enforcement agencies have secured over 2,500 decryption keys and are providing support to LockBit's victims, while cybersecurity experts emphasize the ongoing threat of ransomware.