Australia Imposes Financial Sanctions and Travel Bans on Russian Hackers
The sanctions are aimed at disrupting the operations of Evil Corp and preventing further malicious activity that could pose a threat to Australia’s cyber landscape.
Australia has imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on three senior Russian figures associated with the infamous cybercrime group Evil Corp.
The sanctions specifically target Maksim Viktorovich Yakubets, Igor Olegovich Turashev, and Aleksandr Viktorovich Ryzhenkov, who hold key positions within the organization. These individuals are now prohibited from entering Australia, and it is a criminal offense to provide or deal with their assets within Australian jurisdiction.
According to a joint statement from the defense and foreign affairs departments, Evil Corp is among the world’s most notorious cybercrime syndicates, responsible for a series of high-profile ransomware attacks spanning over a decade.
Their cyberattacks have resulted in millions of dollars in losses and significant disruptions to critical systems, including healthcare infrastructure, national sectors, and government institutions in Europe, the UK, and the United States.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles attributed the sanctions to the collaboration between Australian and international law enforcement agencies.
“We urge all Australians, both individuals and businesses, to remain vigilant about their cybersecurity measures to help bolster Australia’s defenses against malicious cyber activities,” he stated.
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The government stated that this marks the third instance where Australia has utilized its autonomous cyber sanctions framework, a tool created to deter and respond to malicious cyber activities.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong emphasized that the Albanese government is the first in Australia’s history to employ autonomous cyber sanctions powers.
“We are leveraging all aspects of our national power to enhance Australia’s security and safeguard the well-being of Australians,” she mentioned.
Given the increasing frequency of ransomware attacks impacting Australia’s critical infrastructure, government sectors, and industries, these sanctions play a vital role in protecting the nation from future cyber threats.
Minister for Cyber Security Tony Burke reiterated Australia’s position: “We have made it clear that under our government, Australia is strengthening its defenses and ensuring that those who target our citizens and businesses face consequences.”
The sanctions are designed to disrupt Evil Corp’s operations and prevent any further malicious activities that could jeopardize Australia’s cyber environment.
This move follows a report revealing that 15 Australian media outlets were targeted in a coordinated disinformation campaign linked to Russia.
Finnish analytics firm CheckFirst released an update on its report, Operation Overload, detailing the ways in which media organizations were misled.
The report highlighted that local media outlets, including AAP, ABC, The Conversation, and The Daily Aus, received approximately 71,000 spam emails containing misleading information about global events like the Ukraine war and the Paris Olympics.
