Ryuk Ransomware Drama: Armenian Hacker Faces U.S. Justice Showdown!
Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, charged over Ryuk ransomware attacks, is facing serious consequences. Extradited from Ukraine, the Armenian national allegedly made millions in bitcoins, all while claiming innocence. If convicted, he could spend five years contemplating his life choices—and possibly learning how to pronounce “extradition” correctly.
Hot Take:
In a plot that sounds like it could come straight from a thriller movie, an Armenian man has finally been extradited to the US for his alleged role in the notorious Ryuk ransomware attacks. And just like that, the cybercrime version of “Catch Me If You Can” gets a new episode with international intrigue, a cast of international suspects, and a courtroom drama set to unfold. Vardanyan and his partners-in-crime seemed to have been running an illicit startup with a business model that would make even the most unscrupulous entrepreneur blush.
Key Points:
- Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, an Armenian national, extradited to the US for his alleged role in Ryuk ransomware attacks.
- Faces charges including conspiracy, computer fraud, and extortion, with potential penalties of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count.
- Vardanyan’s alleged accomplice, Levon Georgiyovych Avetisyan, is detained in France; US seeks extradition.
- Two Ukrainian nationals charged but remain on the lam, making the case a veritable international game of hide and seek.
- The Ryuk ransomware gang reportedly received over $100 million in ransoms, including 1,600 bitcoins, valued at over $15 million at the time.