Ukrainian Hacker Accused of Cyber Extortion Indicted in Germany

The suspect is charged with encrypting data from 22 German organizations and demanding ransoms, causing €2.4 million in damages.

A 45-year-old Ukrainian man, allegedly part of the GandCrab cybercrime group, has been indicted in Germany for cyber extortion and sabotage.
The suspect is accused of encrypting data from 22 German companies and institutions in 2019, including medical manufacturers and the Württemberg State Theater in Stuttgart.
Victims faced production disruptions and were asked to pay up to $15,000 in cryptocurrency for data decryption, with six entities reportedly paying the ransom.
The total economic damage caused by the attacks on German organizations is estimated at €2.4 million, with broader global damages attributed to GandCrab exceeding $100 million.
The suspect was arrested in Slovakia in June 2024 following international investigations involving Europol, the FBI, and other agencies, and extradited to Germany in September 2024.