Trickbot Malware Developer Pleads Guilty, Faces 35-Year Sentence

Vladimir Dunaev, extradited from South Korea, admits to role in cyberattacks causing tens of millions in losses.

Russian national Vladimir Dunaev, a developer of the Trickbot malware, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, and bank fraud.
Dunaev faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison for his involvement in the Trickbot malware, which was used to attack various organizations including hospitals and schools, causing tens of millions of dollars in losses.
Dunaev was extradited to the US from the Republic of Korea in 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2024.
Earlier in 2023, fellow Trickbot developer Alla Witte was sentenced to just over two years in prison.
The Trickbot malware was taken down in 2022, but not before it had been used to support various ransomware variants and caused significant financial damage.