Authorities in the United States and Germany announced on Tuesday that they have successfully dismantled the notorious ransomware group Radar/Dispossessor.
The group, which began its operations in August 2023 under the alias “Brain,” had targeted numerous companies globally across various sectors, including healthcare and transport.
Radar/Dispossessor initially focused on small to medium-sized businesses in the US before extending its reach worldwide. The investigation has revealed that at least 43 companies from a diverse range of countries—such as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Honduras, India, Canada, Croatia, Peru, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany—were affected. Authorities believe that many more companies might have been impacted but have not yet been identified.
In the US, Radar/Dispossessor also targeted hospitals, exploiting vulnerabilities such as outdated computer systems, weak passwords, and inadequate two-factor authentication to access and hold data ransom.
Authorities have dismantled servers and domains associated with the group in Germany, the US, and the UK. They have also identified twelve suspects from Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Serbia, Lithuania, and the United Arab Emirates.
The focus now shifts to tracking down additional suspects and uncovering other companies that may have been victimized.