Overview

• Rostislav Panev, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, was arrested in Israel in August and is charged with developing malware for the LockBit ransomware group since its inception in 2019.
• LockBit has been linked to over 2,500 attacks across 120 countries, targeting businesses, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure, and extorting at least $500 million in ransom payments.
• Panev allegedly created tools like the LockBit ransomware encryptor and StealBit data-theft tool, and maintained infrastructure used by the group to deploy attacks and extort victims.
• Authorities discovered administrator credentials and source code for LockBit tools on Panev's computer, along with evidence of cryptocurrency payments totaling approximately $230,000 for his work with the group.
• Panev is the seventh member of LockBit charged by U.S. authorities as part of an international effort to disrupt the group, which has caused billions in damages globally.