In May, we posted about the threat of a ransomware hacking group called ‘Scattered Spider,’ a collaboration between Russian and English-speaking hackers.
‘Scattered Spider’ was allegedly involved in the Las Vegas hack of several hotel-casinos, including the MGM Grand.
The MGM Grand reportedly refused to pay the ransom of $30 million and had to spend $100 million to get their systems up and running again.
In the 60 Minutes episode we mentioned in our previous post, the host asked the FBI official in charge of their Cyber Division:
“Have you made any arrests in the Las Vegas cases?”
The FBI official replied, “We’re not going to talk about specific cases… [but] when we talk about the actors behind some of the more recent cases, the name that is generally raised is ‘Scattered Spider.’”
Arrest Made
Well, reportedly, the leader of ‘Scattered Spider’ was arrested in Spain a few days ago. According to Murcio, a Spanish publication, a British national believed to be the leader of “Scattered Spider” was recently arrested in Spain as he was about to board a flight to Italy.
The arrest was the result of collaboration between Spain’s National Police and the FBI.
Final Thought
This arrest marks a significant development in the fight against ransomware attacks and these Russian and English-speaking hacking groups.
Additional Reading
The Record: “Suspected ‘Scattered Spider’ hacker, 22, reportedly arrested in Spain.”
*New Novel Publication Announcement
Again, I’m excited to announce that my first IP spy novel, Bird in the Cage, will be published on July 6th and is now available for preorder.
Here’s a brief description of the story:
“Bird in the Cage” weaves a complex narrative of espionage, murder, and quantum technology. NYPD lieutenant Max Valentin, part of an elite IP Crime Strike Force, is in a relentless pursuit to outwit a cunning Chinese spy determined to steal quantum research from a New York City university. Unraveling the threads of a global conspiracy where confidences are currency and trust is a rare commodity, Max and his team embark on a high-stakes battle for quantum supremacy. As tensions mount, it becomes a race against time to unmask spies and protect secrets that could change the course of nations.
I hope you enjoy the ride!
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