Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Also, US Sanction Cybercrime Enablers, Celine Dion Ticket ScamThis week, ransomware victims paying less, cybercrime sanctions, Celine Dion ticket scams, 23andMe to pay $18 million, a 13-year old Daixin infection, Spiral ransomware, Patch Tuesday, CISA ordered rapid SharePoint patching and Spanish police busted a cybercrime ring. Sore Egyptian World Cup losers.

Ex-FBI Leader Cynthia Kaiser on Sanctions, Ecosystem Disruption, Stronger PoliciesU.S. cyber policy now treats ransomware gangs and fraud networks as transnational criminal organizations. Former FBI cyber leader Cynthia Kaiser explains how sanctions, infrastructure takedowns, and international cooperation could weaken cybercrime ecosystems and reduce attacks.

Treasury Links Russian Bulletproof Host Network to Prolific Ransomware OperationsThe U.S., U.K. and Australia sanctioned Russian bulletproof host Media Land for supporting major ransomware gangs, including LockBit and Play, a move paired with new global guidance urging internet service providers to tighten access controls and disrupt cybercrime infrastructure.

US Treasury Says Crypto Exchange Helped Launder $100 Million for Ransomware GangsThe U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned Thursday a Russian founder and co-owners of the Garantex cryptocurrency exchange in a bid to tighten methods criminal hackers use to launder extortion money and Kremlin sanctions busting. Regulators also sanctioned Garantex successor Grinex.

Russian Bulletproof Host Also Designated a Front Company in the UKThe United States cut off from the U.S.-dominated international financial system a Russian provider of digital infrastructure to cybercriminal groups, accusing St. Petersburg-based Aeza Group of hosting infostealers and ransomware operations. The U.S. said Aeza is a bulletproof hosting service.

Also, BianLian Ransomware Hackers Aren't Really Mailing YouThis week, the U.S. sanctioned the Nemesis admin, Poco RAT spotted in Latin America, Apple challenged a British order to weaken encryption and the FBI warned against scam letters purportedly from BianLian. Also, a Nigerian tax scammer extradited to the U.S., a new botnet and a Webex vulnerability.

US, UK and Australia Target Zservers for Supporting LockBit, Other Cybercrime GroupsA Russian bulletproof hosting service used by cybercriminals including the LockBit ransomware group has been sanctioned by Australian, British and American agencies. Zservers has been advertised in criminal forums as an aid to avoid law enforcement investigations and takedowns.

Final Cybersecurity Executive Order Unlocks New Powers for Next AdministrationBiden’s final cybersecurity order expands sanctions authorities to better target ransomware hackers and the financial facilitators and infrastructure providers enabling their attacks, a White House official said Thursday, as the administration aims to disrupt the broader cybercrime ecosystem.

French Police Reportedly Detain Accused Ryuk Money Launder Ekaterina ZhdanovaAn international investigation led by the United Kingdom busted Russian money cash-for-crypto laundering networks in an operation that's led to the arrest of 84 individuals and U.S. sanctions against others. One of the network allegedly laundered extortion money paid to the Ryuk ransomware group.

Impact is "What We Would Have Hoped For, Says NCSC CTO Ollie WhitehouseA British cybersecurity official touted Operation Cronos, an international operation against LockBit, saying multiple strikes aimed at the ransomware-as-a-service have disrupted its ability to recruit hackers. The operation has resulted in indictments, sanctions, and server takedowns.

UK Police Say Evil Corp 'Right-Hand Man' Was Also a LockBit AffiliateLaw enforcement from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Spain made a coordinated announcement Tuesday of further arrests, indictments, sanctions and server takedowns targeting the Russian cybercriminal underground including strikes against the LockBit ransomware-as-a-service operation.

Hackers Part of Callisto and Armageddon GroupsThe European Union sanctioned four Russian domestic intelligence agency hackers including two military officers who participated in what researchers have described as "hack and leak" operations. Also coming under sanctions are ransomware hackers part of the Wizard Spider criminal group.

Russian National Faces US Criminal Indictment, SanctionsThe Russian national known as LockBitSupp, head of ransomware-as-a-service group LockBit, came under indictment Tuesday in U.S. federal court and faces sanctions from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Prosecutors say LockBitSupp's real identity is Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev.

Also: Hospitals Spend More on Cybersecurity; Critical Flaw in WordPressThis week, a cloud server error revealed sanction busting, Moody's said hospital cybersecurity spending is up, the U.S. restricted visas for commercial spyware operators, a ransomware attack hit a lab in Italy, hackers exploited a WordPress flaw, and Argentinian data is for sale on a criminal forum.