Ethical Hacking News
A Russian professional basketball player has been arrested in France on suspicion of acting as a negotiator for a notorious ransomware gang, sparking international concern and raising questions about the blurred lines between sports and cybercrime.
Russian pro basketball player Daniil Kasatkin was arrested in France on June 21st following an international arrest warrant issued by the US. Kasatkin is accused of acting as a negotiator for a notorious ransomware gang and faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud. The ransomware gang has been responsible for attacks on over 900 companies, including two federal agencies, between 2020 and 2022. Experts believe the ransomware gang may be linked to the Conti ransomware gang, which emerged in 2020 and shut down in 2022. A recent arrest of alleged BreachForums operators highlights growing international cooperation between law enforcement agencies against ransomware attacks. The US has issued an international arrest warrant for Kasatkin, who is currently under custody in France, with extradition likely to be a contentious issue.
The world of professional basketball is not often associated with high-stakes cybercrime, but the recent arrest of Russian pro basketball player Daniil Kasatkin in France has shed light on the dark underbelly of international ransomware operations. According to reports, Kasatkin was arrested at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport on June 21st, following an international arrest warrant issued by the United States for his alleged role as a negotiator for a notorious ransomware gang.
Kasatkin, who played NCAA basketball at Penn State before returning to Russia in 2019, has been accused of acting as a liaison between the ransomware gang and its victims. The allegations against him are serious, with Kasatkin facing charges of "conspiracy to commit computer fraud" and "computer fraud conspiracy." His lawyer, Frédéric Bélot, claims that Kasatkin is not guilty of these crimes and that they are instead linked to a second-hand computer that he purchased.
The ransomware gang in question has been responsible for attacks on over 900 companies, including two federal agencies, between 2020 and 2022. The group's modus operandi involves using sophisticated phishing tactics to gain access to victims' networks, followed by a devastating malware attack designed to extort significant sums of money from unsuspecting businesses.
The name of the ransomware gang was not disclosed in the initial report, but experts believe it may be linked to the notorious Conti ransomware gang, which emerged as a successor to Ryuk in 2020 and shut down in 2022. The Conti gang is known for its brazen tactics, including using high-profile hacking forums like BreachForums to recruit new members and promote its services.
French police recently arrested four alleged operators of the BreachForums hacking forum, including threat actors using the alias IntelBroker and ShinyHunters. This arrest highlights the growing international cooperation between law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat ransomware attacks.
As the investigation into Kasatkin's role in the ransomware gang continues, it is clear that the lines between the world of professional sports and high-stakes cybercrime are becoming increasingly blurred. The implications of this scandal extend far beyond the basketball court, with potential victims ranging from small businesses to major corporations and government agencies.
In a move that has sparked widespread concern, the United States has issued an international arrest warrant for Kasatkin, who is currently under custody in France. His extradition to face charges in the US will likely be a contentious issue, with his lawyers arguing that he was merely a pawn in a larger game of cybercrime.
As the world waits with bated breath for further developments in this complex and unfolding scandal, one thing is clear: the era of international ransomware operations has finally caught up with a high-profile celebrity. The question now is what other secrets will be revealed about Kasatkin's involvement in these heinous crimes?
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Russian-Basketball-Star-Embroiled-in-International-Ransomware-Scandal-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/russian-pro-basketball-player-arrested-for-alleged-role-in-ransomware-attacks/
Published: Thu Jul 10 12:38:16 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
