- The US, UK and Australia sanctioned Russia-based bulletproof hosting provider Media Land
- Leaders Volosovik, Zatolokin and Pankova linked to ransomware groups such as Evil Corp and LockBit
- Media Land aided phishing, malware, and DDoS attacks; The allied nations also targeted Aeza and Hypercore.
Just days after police seized infrastructure belonging to bulletproof hosting provider CrazyRDP, news emerged that a similar organization was also being blocked.
This time, the target is Media Land, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting provider that government agencies in the US, UK and Australia say facilitated ransomware attacks and supported various other cybercriminal activities.
The US Treasury said its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning the organization as well as its key leaders: Aleksandr Volosovik (CEO of Media Land and the person who advertised the organization on the dark web), Kirill Zatolokin (who collected payments and coordinated with other cybercriminals) and Yulia Pankova (who was in charge of legal and financial matters). Volosovik was also allegedly affiliated with other threat actors, such as Evil Corp, Black Basta, and LockBit.
Focused fronts and support
Media Land’s infrastructure was used in all types of malicious campaigns, from phishing to malware. The announcement also said the company was used in a DDoS attack against American businesses and critical infrastructure.
In addition to Media Land, the three countries are also sanctioning Aeza Group, a company that was already designated in July and that tried to evade sanctions by changing its name, as well as Hypercore, a front for Aeza based in the United Kingdom. There are also Serbian and Uzbek companies that provided support.
“These so-called bulletproof hosting service providers, like Media Land, provide cybercriminals with essential services to help them attack businesses in the United States and allied countries,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley.
“Cybercriminals think they can operate in the shadows, attacking British workers and ruining their livelihoods with impunity. But they are wrong: together with our allies, we are exposing their dark networks and pursuing those responsible,” added UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
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