United States, Australia and United Kingdom sanction Russian cybercrime infrastructure supporting ransomware

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office have announced coordinated sanctions targeting Media Land, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting (BPH) service provider, for its role in supporting ransomware operations and other forms of cybercrime. OFAC is also designating three members of Media Land’s leadership team and three of its sister companies in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

BPH service providers sell access to specialized servers and other computer infrastructure specifically designed to evade detection and defy law enforcement efforts to disrupt malicious cyber activities.

In addition, OFAC and the United Kingdom are designating Hypercore Ltd., a front company of Aeza Group LLC (Aeza Group), a BPH service provider designated by OFAC earlier this year. OFAC, in coordination with its UK partners, is also designating two additional individuals and two entities that have led, materially supported, or acted for Aeza Group.

Read more at Treasury Department