importantSYS.SOURCE: The Hacker News• 2026-08-06T12:49:54+05:30

Ransomware-as-a-Service Operator Maksim Silnikau Sentenced to 16 Years for Cybercrime Activities

#ransomware #cybercrime #cryptocurrency #law enforcement #malware

Maksim Silnikau was sentenced to 16 years in prison for establishing and operating the Ransom Cartel ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) platform, which targeted 18 companies globally between 2021-2023. The operation utilized cryptocurrency mixers for ransom payments and a structured affiliate system with performance ratings, though ties to the REvil group remain unclear.

A federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, sentenced Maksim Silnikau to 16 years in prison on August 5 for creating and running Ransom Cartel, the ransomware-as-a-service operation he stood up in 2021.

Between 2021 and 2023, Ransom Cartel conspirators attacked at least 18 companies, including firms in California, New York and Nebraska, and others abroad, according to the Justice Department.

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