Britain launched a major crackdown on Russia’s ruthless cyber gangs yesterday as David Lammy vowed to tackle Putin’s ‘lawless Wild West cyber space’.
The Foreign Secretary announced a punishing package of sanctions designed to hit the Kremlin-backed cybercriminals ‘running rampant’ in ‘Putin’s mafia state’ who are bent on targeting the UK.
Mr Lammy issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin saying Britain will ‘continue to constrain the Kremlin at every turn’ because ‘Putin’s greed and corruption has spawned a lawless, wild-west style cyber space where the most immoral and remorseless actors thrive’.
He spoke out as sanctions were brought in against a key Russian cybercrime syndicate, targeting six individuals in a firm responsible for facilitating crippling ransomware attacks globally.
It comes just months after the National Cyber Security Centre warned of a three-fold increase in ‘severe incidents’ hitting the UK following a blizzard of attacks by Russia and China.
Mr Lammy told the Mail that Putin had built a ‘corrupt mafia state’ where ‘the most unscrupulous extortionists and cyber criminals run rampant from within his borders.’
He said: ‘Ruthless cyber gangs have been allowed to flourish in Putin’s mafia state. I cannot and will not stand by as these nefarious groups target people and businesses here in the UK.
‘Alongside our partners we will continue to constrain the Kremlin at every turn. Putin’s greed and corruption has spawned a lawless, wild-west style cyber space where the most immoral and remorseless actors thrive.
David Lammy announced a punishing package of sanctions designed to hit the Kremlin-backed cybercriminals
Mr Lammy issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) saying Britain will ‘continue to constrain the Kremlin at every turn’
‘He has stifled the Russian people’s internet access, while giving cybercriminals free rein.
‘Our new cyber sanctions will reach deep into the heart of Russia’s cybercriminal underworld, striking at the critical supply chains that enable ransomware attacks.
‘Under my leadership, the Foreign Office is committed to protecting the UK economy from remorseless criminals and those who enable them, so businesses can get on with the job of boosting economic growth and delivering on our Plan for Change.
‘Let there be no doubt – if you target the UK or support those that do, we will hunt you down, disrupt your operations and unmask you for the world to see.’
The firms sanctioned include ZSERVERS, which provide infrastructure for cyber criminals carrying out ransomware attacks against the UK and its UK front company XHOST internet solutions.
The illicit supply chain protects, supports and conceals the operations of some of the world’s most ruthless ransomware gangs.
Mr Lammy told the Mail that Putin had built a ‘corrupt mafia state’ where ‘the most unscrupulous extortionists and cyber criminals run rampant from within his borders’ (file image)
It follows sanctions imposed last year on the likes of Russian crook Maksim Yakubets, who is said to run the world’s most harmful cyber crime group, Evil Corp, which is responsible for cheating Britons out of hundreds of millions of pounds.
In October 16 members of Evil Corp were sanctioned in the UK, US and Australia as investigators revealed the complex criminal web which has extorted at least £225 million from victims globally including those within healthcare, critical national infrastructure and government.
Security minister Dan Jarvis said: ‘Ransomware attacks by Russian affiliated cyber crime gangs are some of the most harmful cyber threats we face today and the Government is tackling them head-on.
‘Denying cyber criminals the tools of their trade weakens their capacity to do serious harm to the UK.’