United States of America: Concluded Justice Department investigation into Blackcat ransomware group (ALPHV) ransomware variant and operated websites

On 19 December 2023, the United States (US) Justice Department (DOJ)announced it concluded its investigation into the Blackcat ransomware group, also known as ALPHV or Noberus. The DPK stated that the group had targeted over 1'000 computer networks globally, causing significant disruptions, including to US critical infrastructure. The affected sectors include government facilities, emergency services, defence industrial base companies, critical manufacturing, healthcare and public health facilities, as well as other corporations, government entities, and schools. The group has gained initial access to victim networks through various methods, including the use of compromised user credentials. The FBI has released technical information about the malware and recommendations for mitigation. As part of the investigation, the FBI gained visibility into the Blackcat ransomware group's computer network and confiscated several websites that the group operated.