Mastermind behind world’s most dangerous ransomware gang Lockbit that carried out damaging cyber attacks on Royal Mail and Porton Down is unmasked as Russian hacker [Video]

19:03 EDT 07 May 2024, updated 19:05 EDT 07 May 2024

The mastermind behind the world’s most dangerous ransomware gang Lockbit that carried out damaging cyber attacks on Royal Mail and Porton Down has been unmasked as a Russian hacker.

The National Crime Agency has identified the Russian national behind the cybercrime group as Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev.

The alleged leader’s identity was revealed following the dramatic seizure of the criminal gang’s infrastructure in February, and Khoroshev now faces asset freezes and travel bans.

He has been sanctioned by the UK, US, and Australia as a result of the unmasking.

‘These sanctions are hugely significant and show that there is no hiding place for cyber criminals like Dmitry Khoroshev, who wreak havoc across the globe,’ Graeme Biggar, Director General of Britain’s National Crime Agency, said in a statement. 

‘He was certain he could remain anonymous, but he was wrong’.