Australia has imposed cyber sanctions on Russian cyber-criminal Aleksandr Ermakov for his role in a major data breach at Medibank.

The breach affected 10 million customers and led to class actions against Medibank for poor data protection.

Ermakov, who is believed to be part of the REvil ransomware gang, faced financial penalties, asset freezes, and a travel ban.

This action, an unprecedented move by the Australian government with the assistance of US and UK intelligence agencies, aims to disrupt cyber criminals' activities and discourage future collaboration.

Cybersecurity experts warn that while the move is encouraging, it may not necessarily result in arrests, but it will make it harder for cyber criminals to collaborate.

The story highlights the need for a worldwide approach to fight cybercrime, including diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions, international cooperation, and enhanced cybersecurity measures.