Ethical Hacking News
French authorities have arrested Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian professional basketball player, on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and computer fraud conspiracy. The alleged involvement in an unnamed ransomware gang has sparked controversy, with Kasatkin's lawyers claiming he was coerced into acting as a negotiator. As the case unfolds, questions arise about international cooperation in combating cybercrime and the ease with which high-profile individuals can be exploited by organized crime groups.
Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian professional basketball player, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport on June 21 for allegedly being part of a ransomware gang. Kasatkin is accused of acting as a negotiator for the gang, communicating with companies to demand payment in exchange for restoring access to compromised systems. The arrest has sparked controversy among Kasatkin's supporters and the Russian embassy in France, which claims the authorities are trying to secure his extradition to the US without sufficient evidence. The case highlights the growing threat of cybercrime across various industries, including professional sports. International cooperation in combating cybercrime is also a concern, as the US has not released any statement or evidence against Kasatkin.
The world of professional sports and cybercrime have long been seen as two separate entities, one governed by rules and regulations of fair play, while the other operates in the shadows of the dark web. However, a recent case involving Daniil Kasatkin, a 26-year-old Russian professional basketball player, has shed light on the increasingly blurred lines between these two worlds.
On June 21, Kasatkin was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris after flying in with his fiancée, to whom he had just proposed. The arrest was made public by French authorities, who accused Kasatkin of being part of an unnamed ransomware gang that operated between 2020 and 2022 and allegedly hit around 900 organizations, including two US federal agencies.
According to reports, Kasatkin is accused of acting as a negotiator for the ransomware gang, which would involve communicating with companies to demand payment in exchange for restoring access to their compromised systems. Ransomware operators are notorious for using high-pressure tactics and exploiting vulnerabilities in software to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Kasatkin's arrest has sparked controversy among his supporters and the Russian embassy in France, which has publicly complained about the local authorities' efforts to meet with Kasatkin and secure his extradition to the US. His French lawyer, Frédéric Bélot, has been vocal in defending his client, stating that he is "useless with computers" and had "an ironclad alibi for this." However, Kasatkin's second lawyer, Vladimir Sarukhanov, has complained that the French authorities are being too slow in verifying evidence against his client.
This case highlights the growing threat of cybercrime across various industries, including professional sports. The involvement of high-profile individuals like Kasatkin raises questions about the ease with which organized crime groups can infiltrate and exploit vulnerabilities in seemingly secure systems.
Furthermore, this incident underscores the complexities of international cooperation in combating cybercrime. The US has released no statement or evidence of crimes committed by Kasatkin, leaving many to wonder about the strength of the case against him. The Department of Justice had no comment at the time of press, fueling speculation and further muddying the waters.
In the end, it remains to be seen whether Kasatkin's involvement in the ransomware gang was merely a coincidence or a deliberate attempt by the operator to establish connections with influential individuals. As the world grapples with the increasingly sophisticated threats posed by cybercrime, one thing is clear: the lines between professional sports and organized crime are becoming increasingly blurred.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Convergence-of-Cybercrime-and-Professional-Sports-A-Tale-of-Ransomware-and-Russian-Deception-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/07/11/french_ransomware_arrest/
Published: Fri Jul 11 03:02:52 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
