U.S. offers $10Mn for information on Conti Ransomware Hackers

The U.S. State Department has announced rewards of up to $10 million for any information leading to the identification of key individuals who are part of the infamous Conti cybercrime gang. It is offering another $5 million for intelligence information that could help arrest or convict individuals who are conspiring or attempting to affiliate with the group in a ransomware attack.

The reward describes the US' efforts to drive a global response to the ongoing problem of ransomware and shows the country's “commitment to protecting potential ransomware victims around the world from exploitation by cyber criminals”.

The US Department of State said the Conti ransomware variant was the costliest strain of ransomware on record, noting that as of January, there were more than 1,000 victims of attack that involved Conti ransomware, with payouts surpassing $150 million.

Conti, the work of a Russia-based transnational organized crime group dubbed Gold Ulrick, is one most prolific ransomware cartels that has continued to strike entities globally while simultaneously expanding its empire by absorbing TrickBot and running side hustles that involve data extortion.

Last year as well, the State Department offered similar monetary rewards for locating criminal parties associated with DarkSide and REvil ransomware, which were used in high-profile attacks on Colonial Pipeline and Kaseya.