Ransom Cartel Creator Gets 16 Years in Prison for Operating Ransomware-as-a-Service

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.

Ransomware operators in this campaign appear to follow the double-extortion playbook, threatening to publish stolen data if the ransom demand is not met.

Finally, maintain offline, tested backups and a clear communication plan so that business continuity decisions are made ahead of time rather than under pressure.